Israeli Health Ministry Report Exposes Systematic Starvation of Hostages
The report details how captives received spoiled, worm-infested food accompanied by contaminated water, often untreated sewage or seawater
A report published last week by Israel's Health Ministry reveals that Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023, have endured systematic starvation and torture, providing stark evidence of deliberate cruelty that contrasts sharply with Israel's continued facilitation of humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians. The report, which appears to have only been released publicly in Hebrew, has been translated into English by Jewish Onliner and is available here.
The report was shared with the International Committee of the Red Cross and international health organizations, and documents the harrowing conditions faced by 12 hostages who were released during the January-March 2025 ceasefire.
Systematic Deprivation in Captivity
The Health Ministry's findings paint a chilling picture of systematic abuse. The 12 freed hostage, four women and eight men, suffered devastating weight loss ranging from 15 to 40 percent of their body mass while being held in underground tunnels barely 21 square feet in size, with up to six people crammed together for extended periods. The shocking images of hostage Evyatar David, released in early August, starkly illustrate the horrific conditions these captives have endured.
The report details how captives received spoiled, worm-infested food accompanied by contaminated water, often untreated sewage or seawater. When meals were provided at all, hostages sometimes went entire days without food, while their captors employed psychological torture by showing them clean food only to deny access.
Medical examinations revealed severe nutritional deficiencies including Vitamin C deficiency manifesting in classic scurvy symptoms, along with chronic respiratory ailments, persistent skin infections, and permanent nerve damage because of gunshot wounds. Laboratory tests confirmed what survivors described: a calculated campaign designed to break both body and spirit.
The report emphasizes that "every additional day increases the risk of irreversible damage" to the 50 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity, with survivors now requiring ongoing medical treatment months after their release.
Gaza Aid Efforts Undermined by Hamas
While both Gaza civilians and Israeli hostages have experienced severe malnutrition during the ongoing conflict, the nature and intentionality of their suffering fundamentally differ, highlighting a critical distinction between deliberate torture and the unintended consequences of wartime aid distribution challenges.
Israel has maintained substantial humanitarian assistance to Gaza throughout the conflict, despite facing significant operational challenges. Over 3,500 aid trucks have been dispatched since border crossings reopened in May 2025, with recent reports showing more than 100 trucks entering on a single day during announced humanitarian pauses.
However, aid organizations and Israeli officials acknowledge that Hamas and other armed groups have systematically intercepted these supplies. The World Food Programme has documented widespread theft and looting of aid convoys, while according to a United Nations aid distribution dashboard, 86.36% of aid trucks in Gaza between May 10 and August 19 have been intercepted by terror groups or armed looters.
