Interview with Aviva Segal

Date: October 21, 2024
Interviewer: Natalie Mann
Location: Hostage Family Forum, Tel Aviv
Conducted for: USC Shoah Foundation

Personal Background

• Name: Aviva Segal (formerly Adrian)
• Age: 63
• Birthplace: South Africa
• Moved to Israel: At age 9 with family
• Family: Twin sister, younger sister, migrated with another family
• Early Life in Israel:
  • Lived in Kibbutz Orah
  • Struggled with adapting, language barriers, health issues (hepatitis B, lice)
  • Name changed from Adrian to Aviva

Family Life

• Marriage: Married Keith at age 19
  • Met Keith at 18, married on Kibbutz Orah
  • Moved to Kibbutz Kfaraza, had a son and three daughters
• Children: Shai (41), Gal (38), Elan (33), Shir (28)
• Sister's Life: Twin sister lived in Spain for 20 years, moved back recently

Life Events and Experiences

• Kibbutz Life: Shifted from Kibbutz Orah to Kfaraza for younger community
• Challenges:
  • Initial years in small, hot living conditions
  • Children placed in baby houses early due to work commitments

October 7, 2023 - Day of Attack

• Location: Kibbutz Kfaraza, near Gaza border
• Incident:
  • Morning rockets from Gaza
  • Took refuge in shelter, realized terrorists were on Kibbutz
• Communication: Family was unaware of severity, advised to flee but unable due to constant shelling

Kidnapping and Captivity

• Capture:
  • Entry by 15 Hamas terrorists into their shelter
  • Captured alongside Keith, taken to Gaza
• Journey to Gaza:
  • Forced into Keith's car, driven to Gaza under threat
  • Witnessed celebrations by local Gazans
• Conditions in Captivity:
  • Moved 13 times, lived under brutal conditions
  • Deprivation of food, water, and basic human rights
  • Constant threats and physical abuse
  • Witnessed and experienced physical and emotional torture
  • Keith's health issues (broken ribs, starvation)
• Survival Tactics:
  • Mental strategies to cope, songs and thoughts of teaching to stay focused
  • Strong bond and mutual support with fellow captives

Release and Aftermath

• Release:
  • Taken separately, Aviva released, Keith remains captive
  • Last words to Keith: to stay strong for each other
• Post-Release:
  • Reunited with family but dealing with psychological and emotional scars
  • Continuous advocacy for the release of other hostages, including Keith
• Reflections:
  • Critique of global leadership and handling of hostage situations
  • Hope for better future relations and peace
  • Advocacy against war and for humanitarian approaches

Personal Reflections

• Bond with Captives: Deep connection with co-captives, particularly young girls
• Hope and Resilience: Strong belief in returning to a normal life, hope for peace
• Messages to the World:
  • Call for peace and negotiations over war
  • Global responsibility to protect innocents and hostages
• Faith and Beliefs:
  • Despite not being a believer, turned to prayer and hope in captivity

Future Aspirations

• Desire for Family Reunion: Eagerly awaiting Keith’s safe return
• Vision for Peace: Longing for a world without hate and war, based on mutual respect and understanding

These notes capture the harrowing experience and resilience of Aviva Segal during her captivity in Gaza and her ongoing efforts to advocate for her husband and other hostages’ release.