Israel Denounces Torture, Starvation, and Humiliation of Hamas Hostages
Israeli Report Details Hamas’ Brutal treatment of Hostages
Jerusalem – A harrowing report released by Israel’s Ministry of Health paints a grim picture of the conditions endured by hostages held captive by hamas. The report, submitted to the United Nations, details accounts of torture, physical and psychological abuse, and inhumane treatment inflicted upon the captives.
“The report we are presenting to the UN is a heartbreaking testament to the brutal experiences suffered by the hostages in Hamas captivity: cruel violence, psychological abuse, physical torment, and acts that defy comprehension,” said Health minister Uriel Busso in a statement released Saturday.
The report draws on the testimonies of 105 hostages released in November 2023 following a brief truce between Israel and Hamas, which began its offensive in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. It also includes accounts from 12 other hostages – four released by Hamas and eight rescued by the Israeli military.
The returning hostages described being denied basic necessities like food, water, and medical care, including anesthesia for the injured. Manny exhibited signs of malnutrition and vitamin D deficiency after spending weeks confined in underground tunnels.
The report further alleges that hostages of all ages – children, teenagers, and adults – were subjected to beatings, burnings, and humiliation. These abuses, they say, have left lasting physical and psychological scars.”This report is a call to action for the international community to utilize all available means to end this cruelty and bring the remaining hostages home immediately,” Busso urged. “It is a moral and humanitarian imperative; time is running out.”
Nearly 15 months after the conflict began, 96 hostages remain captive in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead according to the Israeli military.
The Families Forum of Abducted and Missing Persons echoed the urgency of the situation. “The report from the Ministry of Health is a devastating reminder of the urgency to bring our loved ones home,” the organization said in a statement. “The horrifying testimonies of the released hostages reflect a desolate reality: for over 50 agonizing days, they endured physical abuse, psychological torment, and dehumanizing conditions.”
The forum stressed that 400 days after the initial attack, the remaining hostages continue to face the same horrors as those who were released. They called for a extensive agreement to secure the immediate release of all hostages,urging the united States and all mediating parties to take decisive action.