A recently released Israeli prisoner has criticised her government for hesitating to secure her release, saying it felt as though their lives were not valued enough.

In an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth, the ex-detainee, identified as Berger, expressed frustration over failed negotiations, which deepened the hardship of captivity. "It was hard to hear discussions about the price of the deal as if our lives weren’t worth enough," she said.

She revealed that detainees followed news from Israel, including the events of 7 October. While she described moments of normalcy in captivity, such as celebrating Hanukkah, she highlighted the emotional toll of missing family milestones.

Berger called for continued efforts to return all captives and demanded investigations into those who did not survive. "We must not stop until everyone is returned," she urged.