JOHANNESBURG - Being apart from family was one of the hardest things that former Israeli hostage Tal Shoham had to endure.
Hamas abducted Shoham from Kibbutz Be’eri on 7 October 2023, during a violent attack on southern Israel.
He was held captive for over 500 days in Gaza.
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Shoham was released earlier this year as part of a mediated hostage release and ceasefire agreement.
The family man says he was almost killed a number of times while under Hamas captivity.
He also says he lost over 50 kilograms as he was being starved and kept in horrible conditions.