Moran Stella Yanai, a former hostage, opened up about her harrowing experience in an interview on Sunday, revealing the depths of psychological torture inflicted by her Hamas captors. Stella, who was released from captivity on November 29 last year, described how her kidnappers not only demanded a ransom for her release but also subjected her to severe mental torment.
In the interview with N12, Stella recounted the chilling details of her captivity. She revealed that during her time with the Hamas terrorists, they threatened her life and demanded that her father pay for her freedom. Stella recalled a moment when her captors repeatedly mentioned “abuha abuha,” Arabic for “her father, her father,” and then interrogated her about her father’s willingness to pay for her release. “They asked me how much money my father would give to secure my freedom,” Stella said. “I told them he would give anything for me.”
Stella elaborated that her captors were relentless in their questioning, probing her about her father’s income and other personal details. “I stressed that my father would do anything to get me back,” she said. After her release, Stella confirmed with her father that ransom demands had indeed been made, although it remains unclear whether the goal was extortion or part of a broader psychological strategy. Stella stated, “The terrorists’ mind games didn’t stop with me; they continued to torment my family.”
Additionally, Stella described attempts by her captors to convert her to Islam. They would occasionally bring a Quran and read verses to her, promising an earlier release if she converted. “They would try to convince me to become a Muslim, showing me what it means to be a Muslim woman and even sending someone to fetch a head covering for me,” Stella shared. Her captors’ tactics included forced indoctrination and manipulation, which she described as part of their broader strategy of psychological abuse.
Reflecting on the trauma inflicted on her family, Stella emphasized the emotional toll of the situation. She recalled how her father, upon receiving ransom demands, was shown a photo of her and threatened with her execution if he failed to pay. “Just imagining my father in that position, knowing that his daughter’s life depended on money, is heart-wrenching. My parents endured a trauma equal to mine,” she concluded.
