After nearly two years spent in the darkness of captivity, the last 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have begun the arduous journey toward recovery. Their release on October 14, 2025, marked a turning point not only for the individuals finally freed but also for their families and the broader Israeli public, who have waited in hope and anguish since the war’s outbreak.
According to the Associated Press, all hostages were declared in stable condition following their release, with none requiring immediate intensive care. Yet, as Dr. Hagai Levine, head of the health team for the Hostages Family Forum, cautioned, "what appears on the outside doesn’t reflect what’s going on internally." The trauma endured by these men and women runs deep, manifesting in both physical and psychological scars that will take months—if not years—to heal.
From the outset, the returnees’ path to normalcy has been carefully managed by teams of doctors, nurses, specialists, and social workers. The Israeli Ministry of Health has set strict protocols: hostages remain hospitalized for several days, undergoing comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluations. Nutritionists play a crucial role, guiding both hostages and their families through the delicate process of reintroducing food—too much, too quickly, and they risk refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal complication after prolonged starvation.
The toll of captivity is evident. Many hostages emerged from Gaza thin and pale, the result of months with insufficient food and little to no sunlight. As Dr. Levine explained, this deprivation can lead to a host of complications: kidney and liver issues, cognitive decline, osteoporosis, and even blood clots. The physical consequences are further compounded by the trauma of being chained for extended periods. "Many hostages wore leg chains for their entire captivity, which can lead to orthopedic problems, muscle waste and blood clots," Levine said.
Some of the stories are harrowing. Elkana Bohbot, one of the newly freed hostages, told his family about the pain coursing through his back, feet, and stomach—a result, his wife Rebecca recounted to reporters, of force-feeding just before his release. "Ahead of his release, he received food in large portions so he will look a bit better for the world," she said from the hospital, according to Israeli television’s Channel 12.
The dangers did not end with liberation. Some previously released hostages suffered untreated minor strokes and infections while in captivity, emerging with compromised immune systems. The risk of infection remains so high that doctors have restricted the number of visitors. Dr. Levine has even criticized the visits of politicians, arguing that such appearances are both unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited five hostages on October 14, was diagnosed with bronchitis the following day. President Isaac Herzog and Defense Minister Israel Katz also visited hostages, underscoring the high-profile attention the issue commands in Israel.
The roots of this trauma stretch back to the war’s beginning, when Hamas militants stormed across the Israeli border, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 Israelis. In the ensuing conflict, Gaza’s Health Ministry—whose casualty records are generally considered reliable by U.N. agencies—reports that more than 67,600 Palestinians have been killed, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
For the freed hostages, recovery is about more than just physical health. As clinical neuropsychologist Einat Yehene, head of rehabilitation for the Hostages Families Forum, emphasized, restoring a sense of autonomy is paramount. After years of having every decision made for them, even simple questions—"Do you need to go to the bathroom? Would you like to eat something?"—can be overwhelming. "Someone is asking you a question—do you need to go to the bathroom? Would you like to eat something? These are questions they never heard for two years," Yehene said. The protocol now requires that caregivers seek permission for even the smallest actions, from turning off a light to changing bedsheets.
Some hostages are haunted by the physical sensation of thirst, a trigger that recalls the deprivation of captivity. Others cannot bear to be alone, needing a family member by their side at all times. The process of rebuilding trust, especially with children, is delicate. According to Dr. Levine, fathers among the hostages have experienced smoother reintegration, as the responsibilities of parenthood help anchor them in daily life. "It’s a facilitator of recovery because it forces them to get back into the role of father," he noted. Interestingly, none of the women held long-term were mothers, a fact that perhaps points to the different psychological trajectories among the released.
The emotional turbulence of freedom is palpable. In the first days after release, euphoria is common—but so too is guilt, as many hostages struggle with the pain their families endured during their absence. For some, the outside world is a shock. Having been cut off from news and society, they need to be gradually reintroduced to information about what happened in Israel during their captivity. Yehene observed that even hostages released in previous ceasefires experienced a shift after the October 14 release. "I see movement from frozen emotions and frozen trauma," she said. "You don’t feel guilty anymore. You don’t feel responsible."
The ripple effects extend beyond the individuals freed. Iair Horn, who was released in February, described how his own sense of liberation was incomplete until his younger brother Eitan was also freed. "About eight months ago, I came home. But the truth is that only today am I truly free," Horn said, tears streaming down his face as he spoke from the hospital where his brother was being evaluated. "Only now that Eitan is back is my heart, our heart, whole again." Liran Berman, whose siblings Gali and Ziv were released, echoed this sentiment: "For 738 days, our lives were trapped between hope and fear. Yesterday that chapter ended. Seeing Gali and Ziv again, holding them after so long, was like feeling the world start to move again."
On October 15, family members of the recently released hostages held a press statement at hospitals where their loved ones were being treated, according to Haaretz. Their words, filled with relief and cautious optimism, reflected the broader mood in Israel: a mixture of joy, gratitude, and lingering anxiety about the long road ahead.
As the freed hostages begin to reclaim their lives, their resilience stands as a testament to human endurance. The journey will be slow and fraught with setbacks, but with the support of their families and a nation eager to help them heal, they are finally moving forward—step by tentative step—toward a future no longer defined by captivity.