Current:Home > InvestDoctor who treated freed Hamas hostages describes physical, sexual and psychological abuse -Stellar Financial Insights
Doctor who treated freed Hamas hostages describes physical, sexual and psychological abuse
View
Date:2025-04-17 18:27:18
About 100 Israeli hostages, kidnapped during the deadly Hamas raid on Israel, have been released after more than 50 days in captivity. Dr. Itai Pessach (director of the Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital at Sheba Medical Center outside Tel Aviv), whose team interviewed and examined many of them, told "CBS News Sunday Morning" the freed hostages were brought to the medical center whether they wanted to come or not.
"We thought they would need a buffer from that time in captivity, underground, in the dark, with very little food, with a lot of psychological stress," he said. "We have to remember that these people have not been around since October 7."
For some, they did not have a home to go back to – and it was Pessach who had to inform them. "One of the largest challenges that we had is, how do we break the bad news?" he said. "They look around the room, and they see that someone's missing. That was something we had to prepare for."
- More Hamas-held hostages freed, as are Palestinian prisoners ("Sunday Morning")
Except for a brief cease-fire, there's been an almost-constant Israeli bombardment of Gaza, much of which has been pummeled into wreckage, with half of the population facing severe hunger.
Pessach said he believes both Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from PTSD: "When they undergo events such as this, this will take its toll, and it doesn't matter if they're on this side or the other side."
- Israel-Hamas war combat resumes in Gaza as Israelis accuse the Palestinian group of violating cease-fire
- Israel expands Gaza ground offensive, says efforts in south will carry "no less strength" than in north
- U.N. says Israel-Hamas war causing "unmatched" suffering in Gaza, pleads for new cease-fire, more aid
He also believes that television pictures of the freed hostages that suggested they had not been physically abused were misleading. "I think it was very deceptive," said Pessach. "There's not a single person that came back that didn't have a significant physical injury or a medical problem. On top of that, some of them were getting medication, to look better than they actually were."
There were also stories of hostages being branded (a common practice inflicted on Jews and other prisoners of Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust), and of being sexually abused. "Yes, we did see signs of branding," Pessach said. "We definitely saw signs of being handcuffed. We did hear and see evidence of sexual abuse in a significant part of the people we have treated. We also heard evidence – and that was one of the hardest parts – of abuse against those that [are still there], both physical and sexual."
Pessach also said hostages were subjected to psychological torture (as in being told that Israel no longer exists). "What really struck me is how prepared the Hamas terrorists were with their psychological torment," he said. "It was structured and preplanned. They're constantly saying, 'Nobody cares about you. You are here alone. You hear the bombs falling? They don't care about you. We're here to protect you.' And this really played with their minds.
"There have been some episodes where they separated two family members, and then put them back together, then separated them, then put them back together. And so, as a parent you would do anything to have your child with you, even when you are in captivity," he said.
Pessach said that there was no formula in how they treated the hostages upon their return. "There was no protocol; we had to make that up as we went," he said. "Now, unfortunately, we are the world experts in receiving people that were hostage."
Don't miss Lesley Stahl's interview with freed hostages on "60 Minutes" Sunday, Dec. 17, on CBS and Paramount+. Watch a preview here:
Story produced by Mary Raffalli. Editor: George Pozderec.
See also:
- Hamas' tunnels: Piercing a battleground beneath Gaza ("Sunday Morning")
- Israel's military intensifies shelling of Northern Gaza Strip ("Sunday Morning")
- Volunteers mobilize to aid Israeli hostage families ("Sunday Morning")
- Truckloads of humanitarian aid finally enter Gaza ("Sunday Morning")
- Mideast scholar Hussein Ibish: "Israelis and Palestinians must stop dehumanizing each other" ("Sunday Morning")
- With protests over Mideast war, questions arise about America's role ("Sunday Morning")
- In:
- Hostage Situation
- Hamas
- Israel
- Gaza Strip
One of America's most recognized and experienced broadcast journalists, Lesley Stahl has been a 60 Minutes correspondent since 1991.
veryGood! (18123)
Related
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Usher's Sweet Tribute to Fatherhood at 2024 BET Awards Got Us Fallin' in Love
- Hurricane Beryl strengthens into a Category 4 storm as it nears the southeast Caribbean
- Pogacar takes the yellow jersey in the 2nd stage of the Tour de France. Only Vingegaard can keep up
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword, The Tortured Poets Department
- Heatstroke is a real risk for youth athletes. Here's how to keep them safe in the summer
- Tim Scott has benefited from mentors along the way. He’s hoping for another helping hand
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Disappointed Democrats stick with Biden after rough debate performance
Ranking
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- As climate change makes extremes more extreme, rainfall is no different
- Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet Step Out Together for the First Time in Months
- Horoscopes Today, June 29, 2024
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- A look at international media coverage of the Biden-Trump debate
- Ranking NFL division winners from least to most likely to suffer first-to-worst fall
- Detroit Pistons hiring J.B. Bickerstaff as next head coach
Recommendation
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
There are 4.8 billion reasons why other leagues are watching the fallout from ‘Sunday Ticket’ case
Gabby Thomas wins 200 at Olympic track trials; Sha'Carri Richardson fourth
J.K. Rowling feuds with 'Potter' star David Tennant, calls him member of ‘gender Taliban’
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Hurricane Beryl strengthens into a Category 4 storm as it nears the southeast Caribbean
Michael J. Fox plays guitar with Coldplay at Glastonbury: 'Our hero forever'
Hurricane Beryl, super-charged by warm seas, stuns experts