Israel claims that Hamas drugged some of the hostages who were released from Gaza last month, according to an Israeli official.
The official alleged that Hamas used sedatives to make the hostages appear “calm and happy” when they handed them over to the Red Cross.
Hamas denies the allegations and says they treated the hostages humanely. Hamas says the Israeli claims are part of a propaganda campaign to justify their aggression against Gaza.
The hostages were among the 240 people who were captured by Hamas fighters during their attacks on southern Israel on October 7. The attacks triggered weeks of Israeli bombardment on Gaza, which had a one-week truce that ended on Friday, after which Israel resumed its airstrikes on Gaza, where more than 16,200 Palestinians have been killed.
During the truce, 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Of these, 80 were Israelis and 25 were foreigners. Five other hostages were freed before the truce, including one who was rescued by Israeli troops. Israel says 138 hostages are still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Hagar Mizrahi, head of general medicine at Israel’s health ministry, alleged that Hamas gave some of the hostages Clonex pills, a brand name for Rivotril, a sedative that is used to treat anxiety and seizures. She said that Hamas also gave them some food before their release, so that they looked healthy and well-fed.
Mizrahi did not provide any evidence to support her claims, nor did she specify how many hostages were drugged or how she obtained the information. She said that the health ministry was conducting medical examinations on the released hostages to assess their physical and mental condition.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum dismissed the Israeli allegations as “baseless and ridiculous”. He said that Hamas did not use any drugs on the hostages, but rather provided them with medical care and psychological support. He said that Hamas respected the human rights of the hostages and followed the international laws and norms of war.
Barhoum accused Israel of spreading lies and misinformation to cover up its crimes and atrocities against the Palestinian people. He said that Israel was trying to divert the attention of the world from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where millions of people are suffering from the Israeli blockade and bombardment.
He called on the international community to intervene and stop the Israeli aggression and to pressure Israel to release the Palestinian prisoners, who he said were subjected to torture and abuse in Israeli jails.
