Mia Leimberg, 17, one of many hostages freed by Hamas in alternate for the discharge of Palestinian prisoners throughout a week-long cease-fire in Israel’s battle with the Palestinian militant group, emerged from captivity on Nov. 28 holding her small white canine Bella. The Israeli teenager instructed the Reuters information company on Tuesday that Bella helped get her by means of the ordeal.
“Luckily for me, Bella is not like all the opposite small dogs that I personally know; She is reasonably quiet, until when she’s taking part in or mad, and they also did not discover her,” Leimberg mentioned within the interview again at home together with her mother and father, and Bella.
Israel faces mounting calls for brand spanking new cease-fire in battle with Hamas
Leimberg’s father mentioned that when his daughter was taken hostage, she grabbed her Shih Tzu and hid her below her pajama shirt.
RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS
“It was tough as a result of, you already know, all of the journey to get there together with her, it was an additional 4 kilos of this small cute puppy,” Leimberg mentioned. “We gave her our leftovers so she’ll eat, and he or she tried to walk across the place the place we have been saved and we had to verify she would not begin exploring an excessive amount of.”
Leimberg’s father mentioned Mia had instructed him that it was solely after Hamas introduced her and different hostages into their labyrinth of caves below Gaza and instructed her to climb up a ladder that her captors realized she wasn’t carrying a doll, however a dwelling pet. Leimberg mentioned the Hamas militants determined to let her maintain Bella in a birdcage.
“She was an enormous assist to me,” Leimberg mentioned. “She saved me busy. She was ethical assist, despite the fact that she did not wish to be.”
Leimberg mentioned whereas her captivity was a tough expertise, she did not really feel traumatized and was bodily wholesome. She mentioned the combat should proceed to free the roughly 140 different hostages taken throughout Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack believed to nonetheless be in captivity in Gaza.
“It is so vital that we deliver again all people. As a lot as I’m completely happy to be again, we’re nonetheless not achieved,” Leimberg mentioned. “Everybody must do their half to deliver all people again. Everybody must be right here so we are able to have fun correctly.”
Leimberg’s father mentioned it was his daughter’s willpower to guard Bella that ensured she additionally made it home safely.
“One of the expressions that she has now in regards to the canine is that, ‘I really like you, to Gaza and again,'” he mentioned.
