JERUSALEM — The father of the Israeli soldier freed this week in a swap with the Islamic militant group Hamas said Thursday that his son “underwent harsh things” while held in Gaza.
Noam Schalit made the remarks Thursday evening after spending the Jewish holiday of Simhat Torah reunited with his son, Sgt. Gilad Schalit.
“Relative to the nightmare he endured, he is in good shape,” Noam Schalit said. “He has to readjust after almost 2,000 days of isolation without sunlight.”
Zuhair al-Qaisi, from a Palestinian militant group that captured the soldier in 2006, told al-Hayat newspaper that the soldier was treated well.
Noam Schalit dismissed the report.
“He endured harsh things, especially at the beginning of his captivity,” Schalit said, refusing to elaborate.
“I hope he will return to a normal life soon,” he said.
