‘They Took Away My Humanity.’ Freed Hamas Hostage Tells Her Story

About 450 days ago, Ilana Gritzewsky was set free after spending 55 days in captivity in Gaza, but she says a part of her never returned home.

“My body returned but my soul remains trapped,” Gritzewsky said while speaking at an event at The Heritage Foundation on Tuesday. “I always feel that I am not really free. I cannot forget what happened, what I experienced.”

Gritzewsky was at home with her boyfriend Matan Zangauker on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023 when Hamas terrorists entered their community.

Gritzewsky jumped out of the window of her house, attempting to flee from the terrorists, but was caught and dragged from her hiding place by her hair, beaten and driven on the back of a motorcycle into Gaza. The terrorists touched her and that is when Gritzewsky says she remembers shutting down. She believes the only reason she was not raped that day she was taken hostage is because she was on her period.

“They took away my humanity, piece by piece,” Gritzewsky said.

Gritzewsky is originally from Mexico and moved to Israel as a teenager. She met Zangauker while they were both working on a farm in Israel. The couple dated for about a year and a half before they were both taken hostage.

Since her release, Gritzewsky has advocated for her boyfriend’s freedom, and the release of all the hostages.

With Monday marking 500 days of captivity for Zangauker and the remaining hostages, Gritzewsky says she prays for the day she can stop counting and finally be reunited with her boyfriend.

“We must bring all of them home now. Every additional second that passes is one second too much,” she said.