At Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), an entire ward has been cleared out and redesigned to receive hostages that are set to be released from Gaza in the first phase of Israel’s ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas. The hospital has adorned the spaces with candles, sheets in pink and blue, and folded pajama sets for adults and children to provide a sense of homeliness and comfort to the returning hostages.
The hostages have endured 15 months of captivity in the Gaza Strip, which has been heavily affected by Israeli strikes during more than a year of conflict. Eli Sprecher, CEO of the Tel Aviv Medical Center, mentioned that the hospital will be notified approximately 24 hours before the hostages' release, with most expected to arrive by helicopter.
Unlike the previous hostages released in November 2023, those being freed this time have been confined for over a year, leading to potentially more complex medical conditions. Medical staff at the hospital anticipate complications such as malnutrition, sensitivity to light, and psychological trauma among the returning hostages.
A special team has been established to address issues of sexual and gender-based violence, as reports from a UN team last year indicated instances of sexual abuse among hostages in Gaza. The hospital is prepared to provide necessary care and support to address these sensitive matters.
As the hospital gears up to receive the returning hostages, the focus remains on ensuring their well-being and providing the necessary medical attention to help them transition back to normalcy after their prolonged period of captivity in Gaza.
