Israel’s Health Ministry published a report detailing widespread physical, mental and sexual abuse based on findings from doctors who treated some of the hostages released in Gaza last year.
advertisementA fourth infant has died from hypothermia in the Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees are bracing for winter after nearly 15 months of war.
Jomaa al-Batran, 20 days old, was found Sunday morning with his head “as cold as ice,” his father Yehia said.
The baby’s twin brother, Ali, was taken to the intensive care unit at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
The boys’ father said they were born a month early and spent only one day in hospital. Like other medical centers in Gaza, this hospital is overburdened and only partially functioning.
Medical staff told the mother to keep her newborn warm, but said this was not possible as they live in a tent and temperatures often drop below 10 degrees Celsius at night.
Barefoot children also stood outdoors and watched as the veiled baby was laid at the Imam’s feet for prayers.
Gaza health authorities say at least three babies have died from colds on the Strip in recent weeks.
Israeli report details Gaza hostage abuse
Meanwhile, Israel’s Health Ministry published a report detailing widespread physical, psychological and sexual abuse based on findings from doctors who treated some of the more than 100 hostages released from Gaza during the ceasefire last November.
Prisoners, including children, said they suffered severe abuse, including beatings, isolation, deprivation of food and water, branding, hair pulling, and sexual assault.
The report described one hostage as being sexually assaulted at gunpoint by Hamas militants, and said “the kidnappers repeatedly forced the women of all ages to undress while others, including their oppressors, looked on.”
“People want to keep quiet and say it didn’t happen. It did,” former hostage Aviva Siegel told The Associated Press.
She said she witnessed others being threatened with guns and beaten, and that she herself was physically assaulted.
The findings, which will be presented to the United Nations, could pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas and the release of hostages.
On October 7 last year, Hamas invaded southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking at least 250 hostages and repatriating them to the Gaza Strip.
Israeli officials say Hamas still holds about 100 people captive, but about a third are believed to be dead.
advertisementAdditional strikes in Gaza
Israel attacked Wafa Hospital in Gaza City, killing at least seven people and wounding several others, according to the Civil Defense, the Hamas government’s emergency service unit.
Israeli forces said they attacked a Hamas control center inside a building that is no longer used as a hospital.
Eight people were killed and more than 15 wounded in an airstrike near Nuseyrat in central Gaza, according to Al Awda Hospital officials.
The Israeli military said militants fired five projectiles from the northern Gaza Strip for the second time in two days, with two being intercepted and the remainder appearing to have landed in an open area.
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