What were the hostages' medical condition upon release from Gaza?

The horrific wounds Hamas terrorists inflicted on the Israeli hostages have now been documented in medical literature, according to a report published by Maariv on Sunday.

Experts at Schneider Children’s Medical Center for Israel summarized the medical findings of the abducted women and children who came to them for treatment after the first hostage release.The experts noted the clinical characteristics of 26 children and women who were released from Hamas captivity in November following the attack on October 7.

The data in the study was collected from the digitized medical records of 19 children between the ages of two to 18 and seven women between the ages of 34 to 78 who were hospitalized at Schneider. The hostages examined included six nuclear families who were taken hostage, as well as seven children who were held alone or held captive separately from their families.

A multidisciplinary team consisting of medical professionals, dietitians, and psychological staff was tasked with evaluating and treating the released hostages. Significant attention was paid to anticipating potential medical problems, taking into account the patient’s medical history while maintaining medical confidentiality.

All patients underwent a medical evaluation that included a medical admission questionnaire, a basic physical examination, blood tests, fecal tests, and urine tests. During the hospitalization, all patients underwent a psychological evaluation and a social team evaluation to determine their personal and environmental conditions.

Before their release from the hospital, each family’s needs and existing support circles were assessed, and contact was made with the relevant teams in the community to ensure continuity of care in each case.

The duration of hospitalization of the hostages ranged from one day to nine days. Of the hostages, 70% had no home to return to because some of the homes were destroyed on October 7, and others came from combat zones where the residents were forced to evacuate their homes.

Of the hostages, prolonged constipation was reported in 10 patients, one of them a toddler, as a result of prolonged hunger and thirst and food that was insufficient in fats and dietary fibers, which are important for the digestive process.

Digestive problems and diseases

Two women and nine children suffered from prolonged diarrhea. The stool tests showed the growth of multiple fecal bacteria, a result of the severely unhygienic conditions in which they lived.

All the hostages suffered from starvation, and their nutritional status was poor: 15 of them showed a significant weight loss of up to 15% of their body mass. According to a report from the hostages, the diet was based on a little rice and white bread, without vegetables, protein, or fats.

Upon arrival at the hospital, all patients received a specific nutritional regimen graded to avoid the risk of over-feeding. All patients were also treated with multivitamins during hospitalization.

All 26 patients reported poor sanitation and poor hygiene conditions. Two women and six children were underground for most of their captivity. Some of them also suffered a lack of vitamin D, which is important for normal bodily function.

Most hostages reported limited access to running water throughout their captivity. In six of the patients, head lice were found, which required hair shaving and the start of drug treatment. One woman and five children suffered from multiple insect bites and intense skin irritation.

Three of the children had a history of asthma and experienced attacks during captivity that required the use of inhalers, but it is not clear whether they were treated. One woman and two children suffered from generalized muscle pain shortly after hospitalization.

Their lab tests showed high levels of the CPK enzyme, indicating significant muscle damage, likely from the prolonged immobility of sitting in captivity.

Blood tests showed that about half of them had suffered from tick-borne fever, Q fever transmitted by inhaling dust or contact with sick animals, and murine fever caused by bacteria. These infections can cause neurological problems, breathing difficulties, and damage to muscles and joints, and are sometimes life-threatening.

Of the 26 hostages, 14 were wounded during the attack and kidnapping, including nine with shrapnel wounds that remained in their bodies in the chest, limbs, and pelvis. One of them had a fractured rib and a lung injury with bleeding. Another patient suffered a gunshot wound to the lower abdominal wall.

All patients underwent a mental evaluation and received social and psychological support during their stay in the hospital. All reported psychological terrorism, with various psychological warfare strategies, including isolation, intimidation, food and water restriction, and psychological abuse.

Upon admission to the hospital, all children younger than seven exhibited a submissive behavior pattern. Some of them suffered from repeated nightmares. The kidnapped children spoke in a whisper, accustomed to being threatened by terrorists.

Three toddlers took the food served to them and saved it for a later time. Some of the hostages suffered immediate anxiety disorders and began psychiatric medication.