Hen Mazzig@HenMazzig
“Children were forced to commit sexual acts on each other by their captures. Most of the women were sexually assaulted.”
New report prepared by dozens of experts, psychiatrists, doctors and social workers, outlines the harrowing evidence and testimonies of released Israeli hostages— confirming what we we knew about Hamas’ treatment of the hostages:
1.Systematic Sexual Abuse:
Women and children were subjected to sexual violence, including forced sexual acts between minors and sexual assaults by captors. Some women were stripped naked, groped, whipped, and tied to beds while their captors stared at them. A woman recounted being assaulted at gunpoint.
2.Torture of Children: Children were tied up, beaten daily, and intentionally burned. Medical examinations revealed scars, burns, and signs of severe physical abuse. Some were starved and suffered traumatic experiences like being paraded with corpses.
3.Physical and Psychological Abuse: Men endured extreme physical torture, including branding with hot metal, starvation, and severe beatings across their bodies. Many captives were kept in isolation, denied access to bathrooms, and forced to relieve themselves in their confined spaces.
4.Deliberate Malnutrition: Hostages were intentionally starved, given minimal portions of rice or pita, leading to severe weight loss (10-18% of body weight). Children were particularly affected, with one case involving a child who lost 18% of their weight.
5.Psychological Torture and Humiliation: Hostages were made to witness horrific acts, including the murders, rapes, and mutilation of others, and were paraded through Gaza while crowds abused and stoned them. Many returned with severe trauma, fearing they were still in captivity or unable to eat without hoarding food.
6.Denial of Medical Care: Injured hostages and those with chronic conditions were denied medical treatment, resulting in worsening conditions and unnecessary suffering. In some cases, captors performed painful procedures without anesthesia.
The full report by Israel’s Ministry of Health was submitted to the UN this week.
