Worsening hypertension, anxiety, asthma, lice infestations, untreated stab wounds, and psychological symptoms such as night terrors, whispering instead of talking regularly, food hoarding, uncontrollable crying, and hair-pulling in young children – these are just some of the consequences of captivity observed and studied at Schneider Children's Medical Center among 26 children and women released from Gaza in the hostage deal.
Researchers noted significant findings upon the returning hostages at the hospital, including substantial weight loss, psychological trauma, and complications from poor hygiene and shrapnel injuries sustained during the attack. Furthermore, laboratory tests for contaminating bacteria in bodily secretions confirmed that many of the returned hostages suffered from severe infections.
Of the 80 hostages released during the ceasefire in November and December, 26 – including 19 children and adolescents, ranging from toddlers as young as two and a half years old to teenagers up to 18 years of age, six mothers, and one grandmother – received treatment at Schneider Children's Medical Center upon their return to Israel. The study reveals that the average hospital stay for the returned hostages was four days. Additionally, medical records show that 61% of them had pre-existing conditions prior to their abduction on Oct. 7. 8 of them were on regular medication – five women suffered from hypertension, anxiety, or hypothyroidism, and three children had asthma or respiratory sensitivity.
The medical study exposes gaps in the provision of medical treatment to hostages in Gaza. According to testimonies, none of the hostages hospitalized at Schneider received their regular medication during captivity. Moreover, the hostages did not undergo medical examinations, and in some cases, they received incorrect medicines for their conditions. For instance, mothers reported that they were given fever-reducing drugs instead of their prescribed hypertension medication.
The study, published in the international journal Acta Paediatrica, reports that ten patients suffered from prolonged constipation, with two requiring medical intervention. One toddler experienced fecal incontinence. The hostages' stool examinations revealed contaminating bacteria including various strains of E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and cholera.
Blood tests detected various infections such as typhus and Q fever, though these did not develop into chronic conditions. In interviews, the returned hostages described poor hygienic conditions, with most reporting no access to running water. Six said they were held underground. The dire conditions were further evidenced by lice infestations in six of the returned hostages, necessitating medical treatment and hair cutting.
Medical teams at Schneider addressed a range of health issues among the returned hostages, emphasizing that all received appropriate medical care that improved their condition. Six patients suffered from insect bites, and one child experienced a flare-up of atopic dermatitis. Three children, aged two to four, had contracted infectious diseases during captivity but received only fever-reducing medications rather than targeted treatment.
Psychological trauma
Beyond physical injuries, the returned hostages experienced severe psychological damage. 24 out of 26 released hostages witnessed the murder or abduction of family members during the attack. All returnees underwent psychological assessment and received appropriate treatment. Many reported enduring psychological terror, including isolation, intimidation, food and water restrictions, and various forms of abuse. Some children, particularly those under seven, reported nightmares and continued to whisper for days after their return. One hostage suffered from uncontrollable crying fits, while a toddler expressed trauma through hair-pulling. The medical center noted that one hostage even displayed symptoms of Stockholm syndrome.
14 out of 26 released hostages sustained injuries during the attack or abduction, with nine suffering stab wounds, mainly to the ribs. One patient, who had been discharged, returned to the hospital after three days suffering from fever, shortness of breath, and pain, and was diagnosed with broken ribs and pneumonia.
Nutritional deprivation
Dietetic teams assessed the nutritional status of the hostages as poor. 15 out of 26 patients hospitalized at Schneider showed significant weight loss. Most hostages reported receiving limited food, primarily rice, and white bread. The group of released women experienced the most substantial weight loss, ranging from 7.4 to 14 percent of body weight. Children aged four to eight lost between four and ten percent of their body weight. Younger children did not show significant weight loss.
The research team included the hospital's Deputy Director Dr. Efrat Baron-Harlev, along with Dr. Shlomit Yaron and Dr. Omer Niv, Prof Gilat Livni, who managed the returned hostages' ward at Schneider, and senior physicians Dr. Yael Mozer-Glassberg, Dr. Havatzelet Yarden-Bilavsky, Dr. Noa Ziv, Dr. Lotem Goldberg, and Dr. Dana Zinger-Harel.
Dr. Noa Ziv, a senior physician in the hostages' ward, emphasized: "The study's findings are diverse and require a multi-disciplinary approach. It's crucial to understand that these results pertain to the immediate post-captivity period and don't encompass long-term implications. The most disturbing aspects we observed as a medical team were psychological. We witnessed profound sadness and trauma. Despite the immense relief of release, they had endured significant hardships during the attack and captivity, with many witnessing atrocities against their loved ones."
Dr. Ziv also discussed the hospital's follow-up measures: "Long-term monitoring is essential to fully understand the medical and psychological consequences of captivity. We hope this information never needs to be applied again. Children should never face such ordeals, not even in their worst nightmares. We continue to pray for the return of the remaining hostages and hope to reopen our ward to welcome them home."
