The Israeli Ministry of Health is requesting permission from recently freed hostages to obtain their medical information, aiming to create a detailed report for the United Nations about the health impacts of their time in captivity under Hamas.
In letters sent on Wednesday, the ministry asked the hostages who returned to grant access to their hospital records, which would document their condition upon being released. The ministry explained that the report would focus on the physical and psychological harm inflicted by abduction and extended confinement. It is intended to aid international efforts to help secure the release of those still being held in Gaza.
“We hope you are coping with the challenges of reintegration, undergoing a process of recovery and return to daily function, and receiving the necessary support,” the letter stated. “We are always here for you if needed.” The ministry emphasized that the report would be based on anonymized data. “The report will describe the condition of returnees in general terms, without personal references or identifiable information,” the letter added.
This new initiative comes in response to criticism of a previous ministry report from December, which outlined the experiences of hostages released as part of a deal in November 2023. That report was condemned by families, who claimed it breached the hostages’ privacy by including sensitive medical and personal information without their consent. As a result, the report was withdrawn and was not sent to the United Nations. The ministry later issued an apology, and Dr. Haggar Mizrachi, head of the Health Ministry’s medical division, personally apologized to the affected parties.
“We drew conclusions from the previous process,” Mizrachi told Ynetnews. “If we do something that isn’t sufficiently accurate, we aim to improve it. When it comes to the hostages, our goal is not just to do well — we aim to excel.” Mizrachi further explained that the new process would emphasize consent and privacy, with each former hostage receiving a personal letter. The ministry also promised to uphold strict confidentiality throughout the procedure.
Mizrachi noted that many of the returned hostages have shown a willingness to participate in this new initiative. “We’re in touch with them and know they genuinely want to help,” she said. “I believe we’ll see a very high level of participation.”
The finalized report is expected to be ready within two weeks, and will be shared with relevant authorities both in Israel and internationally, including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Mizrachi pointed out the importance of documenting the medical consequences of the most recent hostage exchange, which was completed in late February. She emphasized the differences in duration and conditions across various hostage release waves.
“We intend to use the report in every forum where it can make a difference,” she stated. “There’s a significant gap in timing between the hostage exchanges, and the medical consequences are considerable. It’s important for us to consolidate the data and present a complete picture.”
Mizrachi highlighted widespread health issues among the hostages who had returned. Some had lost up to 40% of their body weight and suffered severe muscle deterioration. Others experienced significant vitamin deficiencies, which affected their basic physiological functions. Many of the former hostages are currently undergoing rehabilitation to regain strength and restore their physical health.
In certain instances, hostages reportedly received inadequate or substandard medical treatment while in captivity. “They were kept dozens of meters underground in tunnels, without daylight, hygiene, or proper nutrition,” Mizrachi explained. “There were days of total starvation. These are conditions that cannot be ignored, and they need to be brought to the forefront.”
“The hostage deal ended in February, and we’re now at the end of March. Every additional day in captivity endangers those still being held. That’s why it’s crucial to produce a report that accurately reflects the medical and humanitarian toll of their ordeal.”
{Matzav.com}

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