torture of hostages by Hamas: a damning report to the UN

Israel to submit report to UN adviser on torture of hostages by Hamas

“The United Nations and the international community are trying to forget the torture and atrocities that took place on October 7”said Danny Danon.

The Israeli Ministry of Health will submit within “next days” a detailed report “the torture and atrocities suffered by Israeli hostages since October 7”, including “heinous cases of sexual violence”to Alice Jill Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture, told JNS about the Israeli mission to the world body.

“The United Nations and the international community are trying to forget the torture and atrocities that took place on October 7”said Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. “We will never forget these horrors and we will not stop until we bring all the hostages home. »

The report will include “numerous testimonies from hostages returned from Hamas captivity” and “descriptions of the horrors inflicted on the hostages by Hamas terrorists, including sexual abuse, starvation, neglect and humiliation,” the Israeli mission told JNS.

Israel’s Health Ministry said the report contains two parts.

“The first section details the neglect, abuse, torture and humiliation suffered by the hostages, who were released or rescued from captivity in Gaza, as well as the impact of these experiences on their physical and mental condition “, he said.

“The second section of the report examines the rehabilitation models that were deemed appropriate for returnees, drawing on data collected from primary care nurses, doctors and mental health professionals who provided care continued, notably through specialized clinics for returnees”, he adds.

Uriel Busso, Israel’s health minister, said the report “is a poignant testimony to the brutal experiences endured by hostages in Hamas captivity: cruel violence, psychological abuse, physical torment and acts that defy belief. »

“These are acts that cannot be tolerated and require the world to wake up and act,” Busso said. “The testimony presented in this report serves as a warning to the international community to place increased pressure on Hamas and its supporters to release all hostages without delay. »

“It is a moral and humanitarian imperative, and time to act is running out,” added Busso.

“Women, men and children returning from captivity reported experiencing serious physical and sexual abuse, such as beatings, isolation, deprivation of food and water, branding, snatching, hair and sexual assault”, the report said. “Moreover, some of them said their captors had sexually assaulted them or forced them to undress. »

“The hostages were denied medical treatment for serious injuries caused on October 7 and thereafter, in addition to untreated chronic health conditions. Fractures, shrapnel wounds and burns were inadequately treated, leading to complications that required additional surgeries, which could have been avoided with proper care,” the report says. “Upon arrival in Israel, the hostages received intensive care. »

“The kidnappers also tortured the injured by performing painful operations without anesthesia,” adds the report. “In one case, a hostage died from untreated medical complications. »