Joint Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, and the Hostages, Returnees and Missing Persons Directorate at the prime minister‘s Office:

A delegation of mothers of Hostages, whose loved ones have been held captive by Hamas for over 670 days, met today (Tuesday, 12 August 2025) with the President of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, in Geneva.

The mothers, representatives from the Ministry of Health, and Israel’s ambassador to the Geneva mission presented the Red Cross President with a special Ministry of Health report about the medical and mental state of the returned hostages, emphasizing to her the urgent need to act to improve the condition of the hostages still held in hamas captivity and to work immediately for their release and safe return home.

The mothers’ delegation traveled to Geneva in a joint initiative led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hostages, Returnees and Missing Persons Directorate at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Health.

Brief background on the report:

The report compiles medical and emotional information gathered by the Ministry of Health from testimonies of 12 returnees as part of the “Kanfei Dror” (Wings of Freedom) outline (in January-February 2025) and interviews with medical professionals and therapists.

The information was collected with the full consent of the individuals, while maintaining their privacy and dignity.

The report contains difficult but essential information for understanding the harsh reality in which the hostages were held. It describes the cruel conditions of captivity and their severe consequences on the physical and mental health of the returnees. In addition, the report provides insight into the possible condition of those hostages still in captivity.

The report, which does not include names or identifying details, is intended to serve as a reliable source of information and an urgent call to action.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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