“Hostages in Gaza Endured Torture, Sexual Assault, and Severe Neglect, Israeli Health Ministry Report Reveals”
Hostages held in Gaza endured unimaginable suffering, according to a new report by the Israeli Health Ministry. The report, prepared for submission to the United Nations, reveals appalling details of torture, sexual assault, and severe neglect based on interviews with medical and welfare teams. These professionals cared for over 100 Israeli and foreign hostages, many of whom were freed in late November 2023 during a brief truce between Israel and Hamas. Additionally, eight hostages were rescued in military operations.
The report highlights the plight of more than 30 children and teenagers who were among the captives. Some minors were reportedly restrained, beaten, or branded with heated objects. Women recounted traumatic experiences of sexual assault, sometimes under the threat of gunpoint. Men faced relentless physical abuse, starvation, branding, and isolation. Denied basic necessities such as access to bathrooms and essential medical care, their suffering was compounded by injuries and untreated health conditions.
In the interest of protecting privacy, the report refrains from naming or specifying the ages of the hostages. Nevertheless, many of the accounts resonate with testimonies shared by survivors and medical personnel in interviews with media outlets and a related United Nations report. Despite these claims, Hamas has repeatedly denied mistreating the 251 individuals it abducted during its October 7, 2023 assault on Israel. Of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza, Israeli authorities estimate that only about half remain alive.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza that includes a hostage release have gained momentum in recent weeks, yet no significant breakthrough has been achieved. The conflict originated from Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, according to Israeli officials. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has caused over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, primarily among civilians, as reported by Palestinian health authorities. The offensive has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza and left the region’s infrastructure in ruins.
Amid these developments, Israeli authorities are also investigating claims of abuse against Palestinian detainees arrested during the conflict. This multifaceted crisis underscores the urgent need for resolution and accountability as both sides contend with the far-reaching impacts of the violence.
