The Health Division of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Monday published a comprehensive medical report warning that the hostages in Gaza are suffering from intentional, ongoing, and systematic starvation.
This advanced state of hunger has reportedly caused severe multi-systemic damage, placing them at immediate risk of death.
The report is based on recent documentation, which includes images of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski showing extreme malnutrition, testimonies from survivors, medical data from these survivors, and pathological reports of hostages who have been murdered.
According to the testimonies, the food provided to the hostages has been minimal, lacking essential nutritional values. In some cases, the ration consisted of half a pita per day or less. Hostages reported experiencing prolonged hunger, days without food, constant exhaustion, and food distribution used as a form of punishment.
The latest video from Evyatar David, in which he shows his meager meals, directly aligns with these testimonies. Weight assessments conducted by experienced clinical dietitians and Prof. Ronit Endovert, former head of the Nutrition Division at the Health Ministry, indicate that David’s weight has decreased by approximately 41%, from his original weight to 40-45 kg.
Braslavski, who began with a body mass at the lower threshold, is also at risk of further weight loss. His current weight is estimated to be 43-47 kg., a decrease of around 31%. Both men suffer from severe malnutrition, which the World Health Organization defines as a high clinical risk for complications, even death.
The process of extreme starvation
The extreme starvation they are experiencing is a dangerous process in which the body first breaks down fat, then muscle mass, and eventually vital tissues, including the heart muscle. When fat levels drop below 5%, there is a real risk of heart failure, kidney failure, arrhythmia, system collapse, and sudden death.
The report also describes the phenomenon of the "starving brain," resulting in severe neuropsychological damage from prolonged malnutrition. This includes memory impairment, cognitive decline, depression, confusion, apathy, and, in some cases, hallucinations.
The term "starving brain" refers to widespread damage to the nervous system caused by deficiencies in glucose, essential vitamins, and amino acids, the building blocks of protein.