Netanyahu Briefed on Dire Health Crises Facing Remaining Gaza Hostages in Advance of U.S. Trip

Latest Developments

Dire Conditions of Remaining Hostages: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly briefed on the dire health of the 20 remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza prior to his departure for the United States on July 7. According to the assessments, Alon Ohel, 24, is “at high risk” of blindness and is being held alone; Yosef-Haim Ohana, 24, has developed severe mental illness; Avinatan Or, 32, faces a severe shortage of food and water; and Matan Angrest, 21, has been continuously abused during his captivity and faces permanent disability. Elkana Bohbot, 36, has untreated mental health issues; Gali and Ziv Berman, both 27, suffer from mental and physical illnesses; Rom Braslavski, 21, suffers from asthma and has injuries to both arms; Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 22, and Evyatar David, 23, believed to be held together, face “extreme abuse” and hunger; and Eitan Horn, 37, has an untreated chronic illness. Maxim Herkin, 36, has an arm injury; Nimrod Cohen, 20, continues to face severe interrogation; Segev Kalfon, 27, has contracted post-traumatic stress disorder; Bar Kuperstein, 23, suffers from malnourishment; Ariel and David Cunio, aged 26 and 34 respectively, are languishing in harsh conditions; Omri Miran, 46, suffers from malnourishment; Eitan Mor, 23, is thought to be in poor health; and Matan Zangauker, 25, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, is being held in isolation.
New Report on October 7 Sexual Violence: Sexual violence was “widespread and systemic” and took place in at least six separate locations during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, atrocities, according to The Dinah Report, compiled and written by Israeli legal and gender experts. The report, based on the accounts of 15 returned hostages, a survivor of attempted rape at the Noval music festival, and 17 additional witnesses of the Hamas attacks, states that there were “clear patterns … in how the sexual violence was perpetrated, including victims found partially or fully naked with their hands tied, often to trees or poles; evidence of gang rapes followed by execution; and genital mutilation.” Professor Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, director of the Ruth and Emanuel Rackman Center for the Advancement of the Status of Women at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, said that the report, which aims to “counter denial, misinformation and global silence” around the massacre, “makes clear that sexual violence including rape and gang rape took place in multiple locations.”
Netanyahu’s Visit: Netanyahu is scheduled to hold a private dinner with U.S. President Donald Trump. No press conferences have been planned during the Israeli leader’s visit. Netanyahu will meet with several top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and members of Congress during his four-day visit.

FDD Expert Response

“Hamas is cynically using the hostages as leverage to ensure the group’s survival. Although it remains unclear who would be prioritized in a potential ceasefire agreement, Hamas is highly unlikely to release all the hostages simultaneously. Instead, it aims to stagger their release to guarantee that Israel fully withdraws from Gaza and no longer poses an immediate military threat. While this approach prolongs the suffering of the captives, Israel may ultimately be compelled to accept such a phased release.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The human cost of Hamas’s cruel strategy of using the hostages as leverage is now painfully clear, visible through the unrelenting agony suffered by those still in captivity, as well as their families and loved ones, and Israeli society more broadly.” — Ben Cohen, Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Director