JPOST
Gaza hostages face systematic starvation, constant abuse by Hamas, Israeli medical report finds
Dr Itay Gal
August 12, 2025

The lives of the remaining living hostages in Gaza captivity are under immediate threat due to physical and mental torture perpetrated by their Hamas captors, a grim report released by the Health Ministry found on Tuesday. The report, based on the condition of 12 former hostages freed earlier in 2025 as part of a ceasefire and hostage release deal carried out between January 19 and February 7, paints a horrifying image of systematic starvation, severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies, the ingestion of contaminated water, and physical injuries, as well as skin diseases and respiratory illnesses, left untreated… Furthermore, the report described the systematic starvation of hostages, who were given only one meal a day, usually amounting to pita bread and rice, which sometimes contained insects and worms. Captives often went entire days without food, with contaminated water being provided in limited quantities. READ MORE