Sawt Falasteen - Freed hostages' smiles deceptive, Israel's military says

The seven women freed so far under Israel's ceasefire deal with the Palestinian militant group were all malnourished, exposed to psychological suffering and wounded in various ways, said the deputy chief of the Israeli army's medical corps, Colonel Avi Benov.

Images of four Israeli soldiers -- aged 19 and 20 -- released in Gaza on Saturday by Hamas showed them looking healthy and smiling. They greeted people around them and clutched parting gifts in paper bags as they were handed over to the Red Cross.

But Benov said there was more to the story.

"They were given more food in the days before (their release), they were allowed to shower, they were given (new) clothes," he said in a video call open to the media.

"This is part of the show organised by Hamas."

Since the deal took effect on January 19, the militants have freed a total of seven Israeli hostages in exchange for 290 prisoners, all Palestinians except for one Jordanian.

But despite the hostages' joy and relief at being reunited with their families, it "will take time" for them to recover, said Benov.

Hospitalised after their release, the women have been diagnosed with physical health problems including malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and a metabolic system "in bad shape", he said.

- Invisible wounds -

Some of the hostages had been held for the past eight months in tunnels, Benov said.

"For them it's more complicated because light, sun and to be able to talk with someone are essential elements to be physically and mentally healthy," he said, without naming them or giving further details.

All the hostages were "wounded one way or the other" when they were captured on October 7, 2023 in the Hamas attack that ignited the ensuing war, Benov said.

Their wounds were poorly treated in captivity, or not at all, he added.

Hostages who were freed during a previous truce in November 2023 have said some wounded captives were operated on with no anaesthesia.

But the most "complicated" wounds are psychological, said Benov.

"Even if they look happy, a fear remains. It's hard for them to believe that this time around they're in good hands, that it's not another show organised by Hamas," he said.

Benov declined to answer a question on whether the hostages had been victims of physical abuse, torture or sexual violence, saying it was important to "protect their privacy".

"They will tell what they went through, if they want to, in a few weeks or a few months," he said.

An Israeli health ministry report sent in December to the United Nations special rapporteur on torture said the hostages released in November 2023 had suffered various forms of physical and psychological violence.

It said freed hostages had reported being branded with hot irons, beaten, sexually assaulted, held in isolation and deprived of food.

Numerous ex-hostages showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and survivor's guilt, the report said.

Benov said hostages set for release in the coming weeks would likely be in even worse health.

Under the deal, they include captive men over 50 or in poor health.

"We are expecting that the next hostages to be released, who are older, with some of them already ill when they were kidnapped, will come back in worse condition," he said.

M.AlAhmad--SF-PST