Israel's Report to the UN: Hamas Tortured Hostages

The Israeli Ministry of Health has released a new report regarding the conditions of hostages taken by Hamas in Gaza, stating that they were subjected to torture, sexual and psychological abuse, starvation, burns, and lack of medical care. This report, which is set to be presented to the United Nations, is based on interviews with aid groups that treated over 100 Israeli and foreign hostages after their release from captivity last fall. About 100 of the more than 250 hostages were exchanged during a temporary ceasefire late last fall for Palestinian prisoners, and eight were rescued by the Israeli army. According to the Israeli Ministry of Health's report addressed to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, more than 30 of the hostages were children and adolescents, some of whom were bound, beaten, or burned during captivity. The report states that the captors sexually assaulted women, including at gunpoint, while men were subjected to beatings, starvation, burning, solitary confinement, and lack of access to sanitation. Some of their injuries and medical issues have not been addressed. To protect the privacy of the released hostages, their names or ages are not mentioned in the report, although Reuters has stated that some details in the report are consistent with UN reports and information provided by hostages and aid workers in media interviews. Hamas has consistently denied mistreatment of the 251 hostages taken from Israel during the October 7 attack. Israeli officials believe that about half of the remaining 100 hostages in Gaza are still alive. While efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and return the hostages have intensified in recent weeks, no success has been achieved in this regard. During the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and over 250 others, including women, children, and the elderly, were taken hostage. In response to this terrorist attack, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas and freeing the kidnapped hostages. According to Palestinian officials under Hamas rule, more than 45,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed, nearly all residents of Gaza have been displaced, and a large part of the area has been turned into ruins.