Oct. 7 Hostage Details Hamas Captivity Tactics in New Memoir

Shoshan Haran, an Israeli who endured 50 days of captivity in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attacks, has detailed her experiences in a new book, revealing strategies she employed to survive and improve conditions for herself and her family. Haran, her daughter, two grandchildren, sister-in-law, and niece were among the hostages held after Hamas militants attacked her kibbutz, Be’eri.

In her book, "Mission in Captivity: One Woman’s Struggle to Survive and Save Her Family in Gaza," Haran describes how Hamas fighters used private homes for captivity, a tactic she believes served as a form of human shielding. "By holding us within private family homes... they use us as human shields," Haran stated. "They understand that the IDF will refrain from striking locations where hostages are known to be, effectively turning our presence into a personal shield for the captors and their families."

Haran also focused on building rapport with her captors, particularly one she referred to as "Son Muhammad." She believed that fostering human interaction was a way to gain better treatment. "I understood that creating human interaction will improve our conditions," she wrote. "It was a way to get more attention and better treatment for the children."

She drew on the resilience of Holocaust survivors, adopting a strategy of not showing weakness. "I understood that I could not show any weakness," Haran told The Post. "Once you show weakness, you are going to be treated in a bad manner. I never cried during these 50 days. I demanded that they respect us."

According to Haran, her approach positively influenced their treatment. The head of Israel's secret service later told her that "the way I behaved and communicated with [the captors] greatly improved the way they treated us." Her captors reportedly engaged in activities with her grandchildren, such as playing Connect Four, indoor basketball, and popcorn parties.

Haran reflects on the potential of her captors, suggesting that with different educational opportunities, they could have pursued peaceful coexistence. "If only Son Muhammad had received a different education, he and his friends could have developed their abilities and built better lives for themselves and their families," she pondered.

Reflecting on the failures that preceded the October 7 attacks, Haran criticized Israel's reliance on technology in border security, suggesting it led to a neglect of real-time, human surveillance. "The main problem was that the IDF and other security bodies were relying too much on high-tech sensors and cameras and neglected watching the border with officers and soldiers guarding in real time," she said.

Haran also addressed the United Nations Security Council in May 2024, at the invitation of former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. She advocated for the release of all hostages as a means to end the conflict and alleviate suffering in Gaza. Haran noted that China and Russia did not condemn Hamas's actions during the session, preventing the UN Security Council from designating Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Her husband, Avshalom, was killed during the initial attack on Kibbutz Be’eri, along with her younger sister, her sister's husband, and his caregiver. Haran's son-in-law, Tal Shoham, was held captive for 505 days before his release.

Haran expressed hope for the future of Kibbutz Be’eri, stating that she anticipates 90 percent of its displaced residents will return by July 2027.