Hostage Survivor Urges UN to Recognize Gaza Captivity as Torture

Eli Sharabi, a survivor of Hamas captivity, has called on the UN Human Rights Council to officially recognize the abduction and detention of hostages in Gaza as torture and to investigate those responsible. His plea comes ahead of the three-year anniversary of the October 7th massacre.

Sharabi's appeal is supported by a report from the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ), which documents instances of starvation, isolation, abuse, and psychological warfare against hostages, classifying these acts as torture and crimes against humanity. Sharabi himself described his 491 days of captivity, stating he was "kept underground, bound, starved, beaten, and humiliated." He revealed he only learned his wife and daughters were murdered after his release.

The JIJ report, based on testimonies from 78 former hostages, analyzes their treatment through the lens of international law prohibiting torture. It details systematic starvation, medical neglect, harsh confinement, and prolonged isolation. Notably, 68% of hostages were forced to participate in propaganda videos, a practice the report deems torture and a violation of human dignity.

"The abduction of babies, the elderly, and entire families from their homes, alongside systematic torture and abuse, represent a grave violation of humanity's fundamental values," stated Uri Mordechai, director of JIJ's International Law and Public Diplomacy department. He emphasized the need for updated international legislation and universal jurisdiction to prosecute all perpetrators.

Concurrently, a UN Congress in Abu Dhabi discussed documenting sexual violence during conflict and terrorism. WIZO organized a session on transforming victim testimonies into admissible legal evidence, drawing on Israeli and Ukrainian experiences. Projects like RAIA were presented, aiming to develop practical tools for first responders to identify and document sexual violence in real-time during terror attacks, preventing the loss of evidence.