Medical report shows: Lives of all the hostages held by Hamas are in immediate danger

"100 days in the tunnels: A new medical report by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum" states that all of the remaining hostages are in real and immediate life-threatening danger after three months in captivity.

Eight Nobel laureates signed the report and urged the UN secretary-general, the president of the Red Cross and the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide medical aid to the hostages and called for their immediate release.

In addition, they called for the three organizational heads to visit and witness the destruction in the Gaza envelope, to meet the families of the hostages and to listen to the testimonies of the released hostages.

Hostages with chronic illnesses or injuries

The medical report detailed the physical risks the hostages are exposed to, including hostages with existing chronic diseases. One-third of the Israelis currently in Hamas captivity have chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, epilepsy, Crohn's disease and more. The testimonies of the released hostages show that due to the lack of treatment and the lack of medication, some of the survivors have suffered severe complications, such as stroke and heart damage.

The report also referred to those suffering from gastrointestinal diseases and those with special nutritional needs, like Michel Nisenbaum, who suffers from Crohn's disease. Also, baby Kfir Bibas and his brother toddler Ariel Bibas require special nutrition suitable for their young age. Without it, they may die.  

The report also referred to hostages who were injured during the abduction as a result of physical violence, such as shooting and cutting off limbs. Besides the risk of life-threatening infections, testimonies of the released hostages reveal that the terrorists did not treat the injuries of many of the hostages which, in various cases, led to their death.

Disturbingly, there were also reports of insufficient treatment, which further harmed the healing and recovery processes of the hostages, leading to disability and suffering. One example described in the report is the gunshot wound of Romi Gonen. Testimonies revealed that her injury was neglected in such a way that it could lead to permanent disability.

Sexual and mental abuse

Some of the hostages are dealing with existing mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety, which may be significantly aggravated during captivity. However, even hostages who did not suffer from mental illness before the abduction are now dealing with many mental difficulties.

Isolation and disconnection from family, confinement in tunnels and small spaces and physical abuse increase the risk to their mental health and the likelihood of self-harm. From several testimonies, it has emerged that the kidnappers exerted ongoing psychological terror upon the hostages including, among other things, stories about their families being completely annihilated that, of course, would exacerbate their mental state.

It emerged from testimonies of the released hostages that the women in captivity are dealing with sexual abuse – a form of violence that has dramatic implications for their physical and mental health over time. Women who have been raped are at risk of dangerous physical injuries, including tears in the vaginal wall and bladder, which can lead to life-threatening bleeding, increased susceptibility to infections, such as AIDS and damage to future fertility. In addition, rape can lead to an unwanted pregnancy that could be life-threatening without appropriate medical treatment.

Harsh environmental conditions

The report also detailed the risk of infectious disease that the hostages are exposed to due to the harsh environmental conditions in which they are being held. The released hostages reported limited access to toilets, lack of access to running or clean water and poor sanitary conditions. In addition, survivors of captivity reported a high prevalence of digestive disorders, with symptoms of diarrhea, while some of them were diagnosed with various pathogens, like Salmonella. Acute inflammation in the digestive system can lead to severe suffering, dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance.

In addition, the released hostages reported difficulty breathing due to the limited ventilation in the tunnels, humidity, exposure to smoke, and the like, especially those with pre-existing respiratory diseases. There is also a serious concern regarding the impact of the winter weather on the health of the remaining hostages who are held without suitable clothing and heating. Furthermore, some hostages returned with lice or scabies, as well as zoonotic infections. Others returned with severe prolonged infections, caused by deficient treatment of trauma injuries.