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Kyley Michele

Will the Hostages Ever Truly Be Free?

A nation grappling with collective PTSD.
A nation grappling with collective PTSD [Image generated using DALL·E by OpenAI].

In Israel, trauma isn’t confined to warzones—it lives in the hearts of parents, children, and survivors like me. It’s woven into everyday life, shaping a nation grappling with grief and resilience. But how much can a country endure before it fractures under the weight of its collective pain?

As a domestic abuse survivor diagnosed with PTSD, I know the slow erosion caused by trauma. I fought to be noticed, to receive care, and was often met with closed doors—especially after October 7. My story, though personal, mirrors the larger story of Israel, where grief is constant, resilience is demanded, and healing is far from guaranteed.

From the horrors of October 7 to the long-awaited return of hostages, Israel’s spirit has been tested in ways that words cannot fully convey. Behind the headlines and celebrations lies a haunting question: can we, as a people, heal from wounds that are still being inflicted?

For decades, Israel has bred trauma as a byproduct of survival. Studies show that 10-15% of Israelis suffer from PTSD, yet only a fraction receive adequate treatment. After October 7, that number has soared, and the cracks in an already fragile mental health system are impossible to ignore.

The scars of war reach far beyond the battlefield, affecting everyday life. Children now cling to their parents with a desperation that goes beyond separation fear; it’s a primal need for safety in a world that has proven anything but.

The hostages may soon be coming home—or at least their bodies. Their minds, however, may remain trapped in the shadows of what they endured. There will be joy, yes, but it will likely be muted by an unspoken truth: they may never be the same.

Imagine the child who has spent 470 days in captivity, confined to a dark tunnel, never seeing daylight, or the mother forced to suppress her terror to comfort her child. These hostages, some held for over 15 months, may soon return—but at what cost? Their silent screams, fractured memories, and relentless nightmares will not fade. These are not just stories; they are lives burdened with the impossible task of redefining “normal.”

The hostages’ return should bring unbridled joy, but it leaves Israel grappling with a complexity too great to bear: relief, guilt, anger, and heartbreak swirl together in an unbearable storm.

Israel’s mental health system is not prepared for the tsunami of trauma unleashed by this war. The stories of suicide among Nova festival survivors and soldiers are just the beginning of the toll. Substance abuse is rising, families are fracturing under the weight of unspoken grief, and the future feels more fragile than ever.

But this is not new. Generations of Israelis have lived with unaddressed trauma, passed down like heirlooms. Children grow up in fear, parents harden themselves for survival, and the cycle continues. Now, the stakes are higher than ever.

The hostages may soon be coming home, but will they ever truly be free?

The tears of joy shed for their return are mingled with tears of anguish for what they endured. And as the nation collectively exhales, one can’t help but wonder: what happens now?

Israel has always been a country of survival, but survival alone is not a life. Healing remains elusive, a dream deferred by the relentless demands of conflict and loss. We celebrate the hostages’ return, but beneath the celebration lies an unspoken truth—this is only the beginning of a new, uncertain journey.

The trauma does not end with a ceasefire, nor with a homecoming. It lingers, it festers, and it shapes the very fabric of who we are.

And as we hold our loved ones close, as we welcome home the hostages and whisper promises of safety, the question lingers: what kind of freedom can truly exist in a nation so bound by pain?

About the Author
Kyley is a survivor, advocate, and mother fighting to break the silence on domestic abuse and expose the systemic failures that keep survivors trapped.
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