This morning, the Israeli president Isaac Herzog he commented on the report that Israel will present to the United Nations this week. The document describes the physical and mental conditions of hostages kidnapped by Hamas who returned to Israel. “Torture. Physical and psychological torture. Hunger. Sexual abuse. Beatings. Branding. Just some of the horrible words that can be read in the pages of the presentation of the Ministry of Health to the UN on the terrible ordeal endured by the hostages at the hands of Hamas terrorist murderers and rapists in Gaza”, wrote Herzog on they are the testimonies of those who were released and saved. But still, for 450 days, 100 innocent men, women and children, infants and the elderly, were held hostage in Gaza. With winter upon us, their lives are in imminent danger. The UN he has the facts. She is morally obligated to do everything in her power to bring the hostages home now,” Herzog said. The report that will be presented to the UN is divided into two sections.
About half of the hostages reported being deliberately starved
The first part documents in detail the neglect, abuse, torture and humiliation suffered by the hostages freed or saved from captivity in Gaza, analyzing the physical and mental consequences. This section is based on the testimonies of the medical teams who assisted the hostages upon their return to Israel. About half of the hostages reported being deliberately starved during captivity, receiving an extremely poor diet that led to progressively worsening hunger. In addition to malnutrition, many were held in dark spaces, increasing the risk of vitamin D deficiency. On average, the hostages lost between 8 and 15 kg (equivalent to 10-17% of their body weight). In children, the average loss was 10%, with one extreme case where a little girl experienced an 18% reduction in body weight.
Sexual abuse, sleep deprivation, starvation and physical violence
During their captivity, the hostages suffered isolation, poor hygienic conditions, severe medical neglect, sleep deprivation, starvation, sexual abuse, physical violence, threats and brainwashing through the media, aimed at breaking their spirit and making them submissive. One hostage reported being sexually assaulted at gunpoint by a member of Hamas. On several occasions, women, regardless of age, were forced to undress in front of their captors and other onlookers. Some reported sexual assaults and, in some cases, being tied to beds while their kidnappers watched them. A woman, injured during the attack, was kept in solitary confinement in the dark for 30 days, tied and immobilized. He did not receive treatment for his wound, nor adequate food and water. Other women suffered similar starvation and mistreatment. Men were also subjected to severe physical abuse, including continuous starvation, beatings, branding with heated objects, hair pulling, confinement in narrow spaces without access to the bathroom, forced to defecate on themselves themselves.
Children tied, beaten and branded
Two children said they were tied and beaten for the entire duration of their captivity. They showed signs of ligatures, scars and obvious physical trauma. Additionally, two small children showed burns to their lower limbs. One of them described the burns as the result of being intentionally branded with a heated object, an experience described as extremely traumatic by both children and adults present. Most of the returned hostages found they no longer had a home to return to. Upon arriving in Israel, many learned of the loss of family and friends, the destruction of their homes, and the collapse of their communities. Without the support they once had, their recovery and rehabilitation process has been severely compromised. Furthermore, the sense of danger persists, as the ceasefire has failed and rocket fire continues from Gaza, along with fighting on the northern front.
The second part of the report analyzes the rehabilitation models considered most appropriate for returnees, based on data collected by primary care nurses, doctors and mental health specialists. These professionals provided ongoing support to the returnees, also making use of specialized clinics. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danoncommented on the special report from the Ministry of Health: «In the next few days we will present a report to the United Nations Office against Torture which describes the horrors that the Israeli hostages have suffered and are suffering during the captivity of Hamas. The UN and the international community are trying to continue with their agenda and ignore the horrors of October 7th. We won’t let this happen. We will continue to remind the UN of the sexual abuse, starvation, neglect and humiliation our hostages are suffering, and the cruelty of Hamas terrorists. We will not stop until everyone goes home,” Danon said.
Download the report (In English)
GOI SRT HOSTAGES HEALTH 12.24.pdf
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