The Unimaginable Ordeal of Tal Shoham

One Man’s Survival Story: A Harrowing Account of Captivity, Loss, and Resilience Amid Hamas Brutality

Source: Fox News

In a world where the horrors of war often remain distant and abstract, sometimes the stories that break through the noise are the ones that remind us of the unimaginable human suffering that exists in the shadows of conflict.

Tal Shoham’s story is one such reminder. After being held captive for 505 days in the depths of Hamas-controlled Gaza, Shoham is now free—but his testimony paints a chilling picture of the brutality that he, and countless others, endured at the hands of Hamas. The following is based on Tal’s exclusive interview with Fox News, published today (March 15, 2025).

The Beginning of the Nightmare

On October 7, 2023, Tal Shoham was abducted from his home at Kibbutz Be’eri. A father of two, with children aged 4 and 8, Shoham’s life was violently torn apart. As he was taken away, he was separated from his wife and children, unsure if he would ever see them again. Desperate to save them, Shoham surrendered to the Hamas terrorists, hoping that his life would be enough to spare the lives of his family. But in that moment, he had no way of knowing whether his family had survived the brutal attack or whether he would ever be reunited with them.

Shackled, Starved, and Alone

Shoham’s captivity lasted for more than a year and a half, during which he was held in a confined 18-square-foot underground space with little to no ventilation. For 505 days, he faced unthinkable conditions: shackled, starved, and deprived of human contact. At his lowest point, Shoham survived on only three spoons of avocado and three dates a day. His body, once strong and healthy, began to wither. His weight plummeted from 174 pounds to just 110 pounds. It was a survival game, not just for his body, but for his mind.

“I had to bury my family in my mind,” Shoham recalls. “I had to force myself to accept that they were dead, even imagining their funerals. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Yet in the midst of such darkness, Shoham held onto a small shred of hope, even as it seemed impossible to cling to.

A Glimmer of Hope

On the 50th day of captivity, a message arrived that would change Shoham’s fate. A letter from his wife, confirming that she and their children were alive. The news was a miracle, one that provided him with the strength to carry on.

“The most important thing had happened — my family was safe,” Shoham says. “I didn’t need to be a father and husband protecting them anymore. Now, I could focus on my war, the one I knew how to fight, the one for survival.”

With his family’s survival confirmed, Shoham’s mind shifted from despair to determination. The war for his life had become the only fight that mattered.

The Tunnels of Terror

In June 2024, Shoham and two other hostages were moved into the labyrinthine tunnels of Hamas, where they endured even greater suffering. In this underground prison, Shoham was subjected to months of physical abuse and psychological torture. The physical deprivation was extreme: they were given only 10 ounces of water a day, a fraction of what a human body needs to survive.

Despite the crushing weight of his circumstances, Shoham’s spirit did not break. But the tunnels, dark and claustrophobic, were an unrelenting reminder of the brutality of his captors.

“Hamas never stopped digging tunnels—not for a single day,” Shoham recalls. It was a constant, suffocating reminder of their captivity—trapped beneath the earth, hidden from the world above.

A Long Road to Freedom

Finally, after enduring 505 days in captivity, Shoham was released in February 2025. His freedom, however, came with a heavy heart: two of his fellow hostages, Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, are still being held by Hamas, buried in those same tunnels where Shoham once suffered.

"I can’t sleep at night knowing they are still there," he admits. Despite his release, the pain of knowing that others remain in captivity continues to haunt him.

Shoham emerged from his captivity physically broken but emotionally unyielding. His story is not just one of survival, but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

A Call to Action

Now that he is free, Shoham is speaking out—both to share his own experience and to raise awareness for those still trapped in Gaza. His story is not just a tale of personal suffering, but a stark reminder of the brutality of Hamas and the ongoing plight of those still held captive by the organization.

Shoham’s testimony is a call to the world to remember those who are still suffering in the dark corners of Gaza. The war may be far from over, and the need for global attention and action remains as critical as ever.