Hostages Forum Medical Report:
The Condition of the 24 Living Hostages in Gaza

This report, published by the health division of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on April 7, 2025, outlines the dire health and humanitarian situation of the Israeli hostages remaining in captivity in Gaza and the profound suffering of their families. Based on testimonies of released hostages and other available information, the report reveals inhumane captivity conditions involving physical and psychological torture, severe deprivation of food, water, and medical care, and psychological abuse, leading to rapid deterioration of the hostages’ health and posing an immediate threat to their lives. The report also highlights the extreme psychological distress faced by the families, particularly those of the deceased hostages, who endure “bereavement in uncertainty” without formal recognition or adequate support. Emphasizing the urgent need for action, the report calls for immediate intervention for the release of the hostages, provision of medical and psychological care, formal recognition and support for the families of deceased hostages, and the return of the deceased for burial, underscoring that every additional moment in captivity endangers the lives of the remaining hostages. The following is an executive summary of the report.

This report, dated April 7, 2025, details the dire health and humanitarian situation of the Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza and the profound impact on their families, including those whose loved ones have been declared deceased. Prepared by the health division of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the report draws upon testimonies of released hostages and information from media sources and Hamas videos, acknowledging that the information available is partial.

Key findings regarding the hostages include:

• As of March 2025, 24 living hostages remained in captivity out of the 255 initially abducted on October 7, 2023. 196 hostages have been released, and 35 have been declared deceased while still held by Hamas.
• Released hostages have described inhumane captivity conditions, including physical and psychological torture such as suffocation, binding, hanging, burns, and intentional starvation. They were held in dark tunnels without natural light or air, sometimes chained for weeks or months.
• The report highlights a severe lack of food, water, and medical care, leading to malnutrition and deteriorating health. Wounded and ill hostages are at extreme risk.
• Some hostages, particularly soldiers or key figures, endured especially harsh torture, including prolonged isolation, sleep deprivation, and frequent beatings. 
• Hostages were subjected to psychological abuse, including false hope of release followed by mockery and being informed of family losses in a cruel manner. Some were forced to witness traumatic events, including sexual abuse.
• Basic needs like showering and toilet use were severely restricted, sometimes for months. Hostages lost their sense of time due to the lack of distinction between day and night.
• The report introduces the “Risk Triangle in Captivity,” a model based on epidemiological principles that describe the cumulative impact of three factors on a hostage’s well-being: the Person (individual characteristics like age and health), the Agent (actions of the captors, including abuse and neglect), and the Environment (physical conditions of captivity). Time is a central dimension that exacerbates the risks.

The report also addresses the impact on families:

• Families of all hostages face prolonged uncertainty and extreme psychological distress, affecting their daily functioning and mental and physical health.
• Families of the 35 hostages declared deceased but still held in Gaza endure “bereavement in uncertainty,” lacking the closure of a confirmed death and burial, leading to prolonged emotional distress and a sense of being stuck. These families are not officially recognized as bereaved families, hindering their access to support services.
• The deaths of at least 41 hostages in captivity by March 2025 underscore the deadly risks of the conditions.

The report emphasizes the urgent need for action:

• Every additional moment in captivity endangers the lives of the remaining hostages. Their medical and psychological deterioration is potentially irreversible.
• The report calls for urgent intervention and medical-psychological care for the hostages.
• There is a critical need to formally recognize the unique status and needs of the families of deceased hostages and provide them with appropriate medical, psychological, and functional support. This includes access to mental health services, family counseling, employment support, and community support.
• The state should work to return all the deceased for burial as soon as possible to provide closure for their families and a foundation for the rehabilitation process.

The report concludes that the testimonies from released hostages reveal a cruel and horrifying reality of captivity, with severe deprivation and abuse posing an immediate death threat to those still held. The lack of complete information about the living hostages’ health status is deeply concerning. The report stresses that time is running out, and swift action is essential to bring the hostages home before it is too late.

Source: “Living in Hell: Hostages Forum Medical Report - A Year and a Half in Captivity, The Condition of the 24 Living Hostages in Gaza,” Hostages and Missing Families Forum, (April 7, 2025).