The warning comes amid a severe heatwave sweeping across Israel and Gaza, which recently prompted the IDF Chief of Staff to suspend training exercises. This summer marks the second in captivity for many of the hostages abducted during the October 7th massacre.
According to a report released by the Hostage Families Forum, the combination of dangerously high temperatures, poor ventilation, humidity, and limited access to food and clean water may result in irreversible physiological deterioration. The findings are backed by testimony from former hostages and updated health assessments from the Forum’s medical task force. “Any further delay in returning the hostages could lead to the loss of their lives,” the report warns.
The report cites the compounded risk of heatstroke and chronic dehydration, which may lead to cognitive and emotional decline — both for hostages and their captors — increasing the likelihood of mistreatment. It emphasizes that hostages are likely being held in underground tunnels or sealed rooms with minimal air circulation and sanitation. (Read More)
