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Freed Hostages Endured 15 Brutal Months in Gaza
The Wall Street Journal|January 28, 2025
Some women still had shrapnel in their bodies; some were held alone in tunnels
- ANAT PELED AND CARRIE KELLER LYNN
Freed Hostages Endured 15 Brutal Months in Gaza

TEL AVIV-Some of the Israeli women released by Hamas over the past two weeks still had shrapnel in their bodies from untreated wounds they suffered in the attack on Oct. 7, 2023, an Israeli medical official said, as the first details emerged on the condition of hostages held for 15 months.

The seven women received poor medical care while in captivity and now face complex mental-health issues, said Col.

Avi Benov, the deputy chief of Israel's military medical corps, who added that some of them spent eight months in tunnels.

The women-three civilians and four soldiers-are suffering from malnutrition and metabolic problems, he said.

In the days leading up their release, they were given better food and access to showers.

"They tell us it was horrible for the past few months," Benov said. "And just a few days before going back, it gets a little bit better." He said some of the women were held together, but others were alone. Those held together generally fared better than those held alone.

At least one Israeli female soldier was kept in prolonged isolation and emerged whispering because she wasn't used to speaking to people, according to former hostages who were held with her in November 2023.

This story is from the January 28, 2025 edition of The Wall Street Journal.

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This story is from the January 28, 2025 edition of The Wall Street Journal.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

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