Israel Ministry of Health Report: Impact of Captivity on Hostages Freed from Gaza, Jan

An Israeli Ministry of Health report on 12 hostages freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza details extreme abuse, starvation, medical neglect, and prolonged psychological trauma. Survivors endured months in cramped underground conditions, untreated injuries, severe malnutrition, and constant threats. Many now face lasting physical damage, PTSD, and complex grief, with recovery hindered by the continued captivity of others. The report calls these acts grave breaches of international humanitarian law and urges urgent global action for all remaining hostages.

The following is an executive summary of the report.

This report by Israel’s Ministry of Health provides a comprehensive medical and psychological assessment of 12 hostages (eight women, four men) released from Hamas captivity in Gaza during January–February 2025. It is based on medical records, direct patient care, and staff interviews, with the consent of the survivors.

Key Findings:

Severe Violations of International Humanitarian Law: Hostages endured deliberate, systematic abuse, torture, and medical neglect, reflecting an intentional policy to inflict physical and psychological harm.
Initial Trauma: Captives suffered violent abductions involving shootings, beatings, public humiliation, and witnessing killings of relatives and community destruction.
Conditions of Captivity: Many were held for months underground in cramped, airless spaces, with extreme overcrowding, near-starvation diets, contaminated water, no hygiene facilities, and exposure to temperature extremes. They faced constant movement under dangerous, disorienting conditions.
Medical Consequences:
- Physical Injuries: Untreated gunshot wounds, shrapnel injuries, fractures, burns, nerve damage, hearing loss, chronic pain, and musculoskeletal disorders.
- Nutritional Deficits: Severe weight loss (15–40%), muscle wasting, bone density loss, vitamin deficiencies (C, D, A, K), and related complications.
- Infectious Diseases: Recurrent gastrointestinal, respiratory, and skin infections from poor hygiene, malnutrition, and lack of treatment.
- Medical Neglect: Denial of care for acute and chronic conditions, incorrect or harmful treatments, and withholding of medications.
Psychological Impact:
- During Captivity: Continuous threats, isolation (including cases of over one year), humiliation, sexual harassment, sensory deprivation, and manipulation created deep fear, helplessness, and despair.
- Post-Release: Symptoms include PTSD, depression, anxiety, hypervigilance, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, survivor’s guilt, and difficulty processing grief over murdered or still-detained loved ones.
- Long-Term Risks: Potential for delayed-onset PTSD, prolonged grief disorder, and enduring personality changes. The ongoing captivity of others hinders recovery.
Social Reintegration Challenges: Survivors struggle with reestablishing family/community ties, coping with public exposure, and balancing the need for privacy with advocacy for remaining hostages.

Conclusions:

The prolonged captivity, inhumane living conditions, and ongoing trauma have caused lasting, sometimes irreversible physical and psychological harm. Survivors require long-term, multidisciplinary rehabilitation and mental health care. As long as hostages remain in Gaza, both their lives and the psychological recovery of released survivors remain at high risk. The report urges international health organizations and governments to recognize these conditions as grave breaches of humanitarian law and act to secure the release of all captives.

Source: “The impact of captivity on the physical and mental health of hostages returned from Gaza, January–February 2025,” Israel Ministry of Health, (August 12, 2025). [Hebrew]