LIVE UPDATES
Renana Eitan, Director of the Psychiatric Division at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre-Ichilov, revealed on Monday the harrowing details of the treatment inflicted upon hostages taken during Hamas's assault on Israel on October 7. The victims, forcibly brought into Gaza, were reportedly drugged to ensure compliance and subjected to a range of abuses, including psychological and sexual torment.
Expressing her shock, Eitan, with two decades of experience in trauma care, remarked, "I've never seen anything like that." She emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "The physical, the sexual, the mental, the psychological abuse of these hostages that came back is just terrible. We have to rewrite the textbook."
"They wanted to control the kids, and sometimes it's difficult to control young children, adolescents. And they know that if they drug them they will be quiet," she added.
The hostages, now receiving medical attention, were rescued from captivity following the military response to the attack. Eitan's assessment sheds light on the immense challenges faced by those working to rehabilitate the victims, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the trauma.
Israeli authorities are expected to conduct thorough investigations into the incidents, with a focus on bringing those responsible for the heinous acts to justice. International condemnation of such actions has been swift, with calls for accountability and measures to prevent future occurrences.
The revelation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support systems and mental health resources to aid the recovery of the survivors. As the international community grapples with the aftermath, questions arise about the broader implications of such atrocities and the collective responsibility to prevent their recurrence.
