The Term 'Sabaya' and the Israel-Hamas War

Sabaya=slaves?

On multiple occasions since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, audio and video clips have circulated in which some Israeli females taken captive by Hamas and its allies on 7 October are dubbed ‘sabaya’ (Arabic spelling: سبايا). On account of the fact that this was the term the Islamic State used to refer to Yezidi women it took captive and enslaved, some fear that the Israeli women and girls held in Gaza have been enslaved. Others point out that the term’s basic meaning is simply female captives. So what is the truth of the matter?