Ex-hostage Avinatan Or planned an escape attempt during his time isolated in captivity in Gaza after October 7, 2023, he told N12's Uvda in an interview on Monday.
"In the army they always told us, there's no such thing as a 100% perfect defense, there will always be some weak point," he explained.
Or was kept in darkness in a below-ground cell, but according to him he was able to feel around and locate part of a wall of sandbags though which he could feel airflow.
"That doesn't happen in a tunnel," Or said.
For the next six months, approximately, Or dug his way through the sandbags. He used a garbage bag to conceal himself from the security camera, he explained, and used a 60 meter extension cable to dig.
Or also described a bag he'd prepared with clothing he'd found and a sack on which he'd written the word "Hostage." He also wrote a will and letters to his parents, in the event that he was killed after his escape.
However, when he finally broke through the wall, Or was instead discovered and re-captured. Afterwards, he said, he faced torture and much harsher conditions, including starvation and beatings.
Hamas terrorist pushes hostage to leave for Europe
Another year later, Or was released from captivity.
Before his release, Or said, he was confronted by one of the Hamas terrorists who had kept him hostage.
"Say goodbye to Dad and Mom, meet up with your friends - two, three, four days, a week - then grab a bag, pack, and head to Europe," he said the terrorist told him. "You know why? Because we will carry out another October 7th. As long as there is a single Jew in the Land of Israel, we will slaughter you again and again."
"I looked at him and said, 'I’m not leaving,'" Or recounted. "He asked, 'Why?' and I said, 'Look at the Gaza Strip - everything here is ruin, everything here is death. When the war ends and the crossings open, will you leave for Egypt?' He said, 'No.' I asked, 'Why not?' He replied, 'Because this is my home.' I told him, 'Excellent - this is my home, too.'"