What about Gilad?

Posted: October 24, 2011 | Author: Claudia Bragman | | Tags: Concentration Camp Syndrome, Gilad Shalit, Holocaust survivors, prisoner exchange, survivor, Survivor Syndrome |Leave a comment »

by Claudia Bragman

After 1940 days of isolation Gilad is finally home but can he survive his newfound freedom after over five years of mental torment? Gilad’s endurance throughout his incarceration as well as his impeccable and commendable conduct upon liberation shows he is anything but weak. However, the footage depicting such an emaciated young man is heart wrenching. It sent shivers down my spine as I realised that the images this immediately brought to mind were those of Holocaust survivors.

A lot of research is available regarding these survivors. One aspect that has been particularly developed is the Survivor Syndrome otherwise known as Concentration Camp Syndrome whereby the living feel guilty that they have survived a traumatic event that others did not. Therapy to view themselves as sufferers as opposed to ones who caused suffering often helps those affected. They can then mourn and continue with life.

With the liberation of over one thousand prisoners, some of which were sentenced to carry out multiple life sentences for severe crimes including involvement in suicide bombings, concern is heightened to say the least. Many and notably the families of people previously killed by those released feel that the Israeli government is endangering its citizens by making them vulnerable to criminals. Indeed, in late 2010, recidivisms occurred with 70% of ex-convicts in the UK. While it is not impossible that some of the released Palestinians have indeed repented and reformed, it is more than likely that at least one of these ex-convicts will go on to commit another offence.

With offences come victims and, dare I venture to say that with every victim might come a thorn in Gilad Shalit’s side? There is no point in hypothesising about whether, had Gilad Shalit’s abduction not occurred, these prisoners may or may not have been released in future negotiations. The unfortunate situation is that Gilad’s case that led to this mass release. It is important however, to distinguish between Gilad’s case and Gilad himself. The question is: will he have the strength to make that distinction?

It is therefore logical to hypothesise that due to other abducted soldiers who did not survive, Gilad might suffer from textbook survivor’s syndrome of which symptoms include anxiety and clinical depression. What’s more, that is not all he has to contend with. What kind of life will he lead with the probability of the recidivism of those liberated on his account looming in the future? And yet live Gilad must. As much as his freedom offends a proportion of people, for him to fail to live or fail to rehabilitate would render the whole process redundant. A tall order when we live in a world where one in five people suffer from depression without going through a solitary incarceration of five years and four months.

Only time will tell how Gilad Shalit bears his newfound freedom. It would be unreasonable to think that he does not have a challenging rehabilitation period ahead which only might bring him to a rationale that would enable him to live a normal life. To simply survive now bears little link with living under any kind of positive light. This prisoner exchange deal to free Gilad is controversial and may understandably be hard to accept for many, but just for a moment, we can perhaps all agree to hope not just for normality but also for a full and happy life for Gilad Shalit.

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