The 20 remaining hostages released by Hamas are starting a slow and complex rehabilitation process after enduring nearly two years of captivity in Gaza. Israeli doctors say the survivors face not only severe physical effects from starvation and lack of sunlight but also deep psychological trauma after prolonged restraint and loss of autonomy.
Medical Teams Confront Severe Malnutrition and Trauma
Doctors at Israeli hospitals are now treating the former hostages for conditions including malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and orthopedic injuries caused by wearing leg chains for months. Many are also suffering from muscle loss, infections, and psychological distress.
“They will need time to heal physically and mentally,” said Hagai Levine, head of the Hostages Family Forum medical team, who oversees the hostages’ recovery process. “What appears on the outside doesn’t reflect what’s going on internally.”
According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, each returning hostage undergoes a comprehensive series of medical and psychological tests. Nutritionists are supervising their food intake to prevent refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition caused by consuming food too rapidly after long periods of starvation.
Hostages Emerge Pale and Fragile
Witnesses described the newly released captives as “extremely thin and pale.” Doctors say months of confinement without sunlight can impair kidney and liver function, damage bones, and cause long-term cognitive effects. Many captives were kept in chains, leading to muscle wasting, circulation problems, and chronic pain.
Elkana Bohbot, one of the freed hostages, told his family he suffers from pain throughout his body, especially in his back, feet, and stomach. His wife, Rebecca, said he was force-fed before his release “so he would look a bit better for the world.”
Some previously released hostages experienced minor strokes or untreated infections during captivity. Many now have weakened immune systems, prompting hospitals to limit visits. Levine has warned politicians against making unnecessary hospital appearances, calling them “both intrusive and potentially risky.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and Defense Minister Israel Katz all visited hostages in recent days. Netanyahu was later diagnosed with bronchitis.
Long-Term Health Risks from Captivity
Israeli medical teams are drawing lessons from previous conflicts. After the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, dozens of soldiers who were held captive in Syria developed long-term health problems, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Experts fear similar consequences could emerge for those recently released from Gaza.
The war that began in October 2023, when Hamas militants stormed across the Israeli border, killed around 1,200 people in Israel and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run administration, more than 67,600 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict. The figures are regarded by U.N. agencies as broadly credible, though the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Restoring Autonomy and Emotional Stability
The process of psychological rehabilitation is as crucial as the medical care. Einat Yehene, a clinical neuropsychologist who leads rehabilitation efforts for the Hostages Families Forum, said restoring autonomy is central to recovery.
“After two years in tunnels, some are seeing sunlight for the first time,” Yehene explained. “Even simple questions—‘Do you need to eat? Do you want to go to the bathroom?’—can feel overwhelming.”
Therapists encourage small, voluntary decisions to rebuild confidence and control. Medical staff are instructed to seek the hostages’ consent before performing any task, from changing bedsheets to adjusting lights.
Some freed captives experience panic when feeling thirsty, associating the sensation with their captivity. Others struggle to be alone, requiring a family member to remain close by at all times.
Fathers Find Strength Through Family Bonds
According to Levine, hostages who were fathers often reintegrate more smoothly than others. “Becoming a parent again helps rebuild identity and responsibility,” he said. However, trust between parents and young children can take time to reestablish.
None of the women held long-term were mothers, he added, noting the unique emotional strain faced by those who endured captivity in isolation.
Guilt, Relief, and Reconnecting with the World
During the first days of freedom, many hostages experience a mix of euphoria and guilt—joy at being free but pain over what their families endured. Rehabilitation teams advise relatives to reintroduce information and media gradually, especially for those unaware of how much has changed since their abduction.
Yehene said she witnessed “a visible psychological release” among both newly freed and previously released hostages after Monday’s liberation. “You can see movement from frozen emotions and frozen trauma,” she said. “For many, this is the first moment they stop feeling responsible or guilty.”
For Iair Horn, released in February, true freedom came only this week when his younger brother, Eitan, was also freed. “Eight months ago, I came home,” he said tearfully. “But the truth is, only today am I truly free.”
Liran Berman, whose twin brothers Gali and Ziv were released, echoed that sentiment. “For 738 days, our lives were trapped between hope and fear,” he said. “Seeing them again was like feeling the world start to move again.”
A Nation Confronts the Human Cost of War
The release of the final hostages marks a turning point for many Israeli families still grappling with loss and trauma. The process of recovery—both individual and collective—remains ongoing. Medical experts emphasize that while the hostages’ bodies may heal, their psychological wounds will require months, if not years, of care and understanding.
As one therapist noted, “Freedom begins not with walking out of captivity, but with learning how to live again.”
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Source: AP News – After months in chains and darkness, freed Hamas hostages begin their long road to recovery
