The horrific ordeal endured by Daniella Gilboa, a former hostage of Hamas, has come to light through an emotional interview with her mother, Orly Gilboa. In a heart-wrenching revelation, Orly shared that her daughter was subjected to unimaginable psychological torture during her captivity, including being forced to stage and film her own death.
Daniella’s Heartbreaking Experience
In a televised interview, Orly spoke about the devastating moment when Hamas captors forced her daughter to film a video that made it appear as though she was dead. According to Orly, one of the terrorists approached Daniella with a camera and coldly told her, “Today we’re filming you dead.”
Daniella was reportedly terrified and begged for her life, pleading with the captor to spare her from this cruel act. Despite her desperate requests, the captors proceeded to pour a powder on her, which they used to make her appear as if she had been covered in plaster. This disturbing act was part of the psychological torture the young woman had to endure during her time in captivity.
The video filmed in this traumatic situation was later shown to the world by Hamas, adding to the confusion and terror that surrounded Daniella’s abduction. In November 2024, Hamas claimed that Daniella had been killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fire and released blurred photos of her supposed body, which was covered in debris. However, the IDF conducted an investigation into the video and confirmed that they could not definitively confirm or deny the information presented in the images. The circumstances of Daniella’s situation remained unclear until her eventual release in January.
Release and First Reunion with Her Family
After months of uncertainty, Daniella was released from Hamas captivity in January 2025, bringing an emotional reunion with her family. In the interview, Orly recalled the first time she and her husband saw Daniella after her release. It was a moment of great relief, but also a moment filled with deep sorrow for everything their daughter had endured.
During this emotional reunion, Daniella expressed her sorrow to her parents, apologizing for the pain her abduction had caused them. Despite everything she had been through, she was deeply concerned about the emotional toll her captivity had taken on her family, showing the extent to which the trauma had affected her, both physically and mentally.
The Abduction and its Aftermath
Daniella was one of the seven female IDF observers abducted from the Nahal Oz army base by Hamas during a violent raid. The raid was part of a larger wave of attacks, and the abductions were part of a series of tragic events that shook Israel. For months, Daniella and the other hostages endured unimaginable conditions under Hamas captivity, enduring both physical and psychological abuse.
The torture Daniella was subjected to was not just about physical harm; it was also a brutal psychological ordeal that involved the fear of death and the emotional manipulation by her captors. This terrifying experience has left an indelible mark on her and her family. The psychological trauma Daniella faced while being forced to participate in such a cruel act of staging her death highlights the level of abuse that can occur in situations like this, where hostages are treated as mere pawns in a larger conflict.
While the public may never fully grasp the extent of the emotional toll Daniella and her family have endured, it is clear that her strength and resilience have been remarkable. This story serves as a reminder of the horrors of hostage situations and the psychological torment that individuals and families must cope with during times of violent conflict.
