Recent findings from an Israeli Health Ministry report detail alarming accounts of torture inflicted on hostages held in Gaza. The report reveals that hostages, including children and teenagers, faced severe abuse encompassing sexual and psychological torture, starvation, and medical neglect. This report will be submitted to the United Nations this week.

The assessment is based on interviews conducted with medical and welfare teams that cared for over 100 Israeli and foreign hostages, most of whom were released during a temporary ceasefire in late November 2023. The report highlights that among the captives, more than 30 children were reported to be bound, beaten, or branded with heated objects.

Accounts gathered in the report indicate that women faced sexual assault at gunpoint, while men were subjected to beatings, branding, and prolonged isolation without basic amenities, such as access to restrooms. Some captives reportedly received no treatment for injuries or medical conditions sustained during captivity. It is important to note that the report does not disclose specific identities of the hostages in order to safeguard their privacy.

The report aligns with observations from the medical staff and previous interviews conducted with media outlets including Reuters that corroborated the findings. Hamas, the governing body in Gaza, has consistently denied any allegations of abuse involving the 251 hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.

Currently, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire agreement that includes a hostage situation continue to intensify, although no significant breakthroughs have been achieved. The conflict that erupted after Hamas's initial attack has resulted in significant loss of life, with reports indicating that around 1,200 people, primarily civilians, died initially, while subsequent military actions by Israel have resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian fatalities, heavily impacting the local population and infrastructure.

In the context of these events, Israeli authorities are also conducting investigations into allegations of abuse towards Palestinian detainees taken during the ongoing conflict.