Three years after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, survivors and former hostages such as Keith Siegel continue to live with deep trauma, torn between rebuilding and remembering, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- The 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks devastated several Israeli communities.
- Former hostage Keith Siegel spent 484 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
- Siegel deliberately memorised locations, dates and events during captivity.
- Survivors and communities remain divided between rebuilding and remembering lost loved ones.
- The Guardian reported the account three years after the attacks.
Three years after the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023, Israeli communities shattered by the violence remain torn between rebuilding their lives and remembering the friends and relatives they lost, according to the Guardian.
Among those still living with the aftermath is Keith Siegel, who was held in Hamas captivity in Gaza for 484 days. During that time, the Guardian reports, Siegel spent many of his long hours deliberately etching into his memory everything that happened to him following the attacks.
Siegel recited to himself every place he was held, the dates he was moved, and every attack or humiliation he endured or witnessed. He did so with several aims: to store intelligence that might help Israeli forces free other hostages if he was released, to keep track of time as the days passed, and to be able to tell his family what had happened to him.
Now that he has been freed, the Guardian reports, Siegel’s body is no longer captive, but he cannot loosen the hold of those memories. The experience he worked so hard to record has become a burden he carries in freedom.
His account reflects a wider struggle among survivors of the 7 October attacks, whose communities continue to navigate the tension between moving forward and honouring those who were killed.
Why it matters
The lasting trauma of 7 October survivors highlights the long-term mental health toll that mass violence inflicts well beyond the immediate aftermath. For communities rebuilding after the attacks, the challenge of healing while mourning underscores how such events reshape lives for years.
Frequently asked questions
How long was Keith Siegel held in Hamas captivity?
According to the Guardian, Keith Siegel spent 484 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
Why did Keith Siegel memorise details during his captivity?
The Guardian reports he memorised locations, dates and events to store intelligence that could help free other hostages, to keep track of time, and to be able to tell his family what happened to him.
How are affected Israeli communities coping three years later?
The Guardian reports that communities shattered by the attacks remain torn between rebuilding their lives and remembering the friends and relatives they lost.