Rescued Hostage Andrey Kozlov's Ordeal: Held in Gaza, Family Thought to Have Abandoned Him

In a shocking turn of events, Andrey Kozlov, who was held captive in the Gaza Strip after being taken hostage in Israel, has been rescued by Israeli security forces. During his harrowing eight months of captivity, Kozlov's captors constantly tried to convince him that the world had abandoned him, even going as far as telling him that his own family had moved on without him, including his mother who was supposedly on vacation in Greece and unaware of his situation.

Uncertain Rescue

When the Israeli security forces raided the apartment where Kozlov was held, he initially questioned whether they had come to save or harm him, highlighting the intense psychological manipulation he endured during his captivity.

Despite appearing to be in relatively good condition upon rescue, medical tests revealed that Kozlov and the three other hostages suffered from malnourishment and varying degrees of mistreatment during their time in captivity, according to Dr. Itai Pessach, head of the medical team for returning hostages at Sheba Medical Center in Israel.

This rescue serves as a reminder of the physical and emotional toll endured by hostages, even after their liberation, and the long road to recovery that lies ahead for Kozlov and the other survivors.