Traumatized Child Hostages from Gaza Challenge Israeli Medics
In a harrowing ordeal, 78 women and children held hostage by Hamas for 50 days returned to Israel, exhibiting severe trauma and malnutrition.
Schneider Children’s Medical Centre’s CEO, Dr. Efrat Bron-Harlev, expressed the unprecedented challenges faced by the medical staff in treating these young survivors.
Unprecedented Trauma: The released children, emaciated and having rationed food during captivity, now struggle with deep psychological scars that baffle medical professionals.
Dr. Bron-Harlev noted that while literature exists on children in captivity, this event stands alone due to the horrific circumstances and extended captivity.
Uncharted Territory: The medical center, equipped with a seasoned team of social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, finds itself confronting entirely new problems.
Children recounting experiences of feeling forgotten and hearing threats from their captors, like “nobody cares about you,” illustrate the profound impact on their mental well-being.
Immediate Challenges: One 13-year-old girl revealed how she was convinced that no one cared about her, echoing the cruel messages from Hamas during her captivity.
Dr. Bron-Harlev emphasized the immediate challenge of making the children believe their parents were searching for them and providing the care needed to rebuild their shattered trust.
Requests Reflecting Captivity: Children are exhibiting signs of their traumatic experiences, such as seeking permission to open doors or cabinets and asking for permission to shower for the first time since their kidnapping.
Some children, having bathed with only a bucket of cold water during captivity, reveal the harsh conditions they endured.
Long Road to Healing: The medical team faces the complex task of addressing not only the physical but also the deep emotional wounds, working to restore a sense of security and trust in these young survivors.
As Israel navigates the aftermath of this hostage crisis, the international community watches closely, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive support systems to aid these children on their path to recovery.
Re-reported from the article originally published in The Sky News
