Freed Gaza Hostage, Held 738 Days, Recounts Starvation and Abuse

Rom Braslavski, 19, a former hostage who was held for 738 days by Palestinian militant group Hamas, has testified about the severe malnutrition and human rights abuses he experienced in the Gaza Strip. Braslavski was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, during a music festival in Israel. He stated that during his captivity, he survived on half a piece of bread, a small piece of cheese, and a bottle of water daily. Previously, he received two to three pita breads and a liter of water, but this was later reduced to half a pita, some cheese, a rotten tomato, and a small bottle of water.

He also testified that he was injected with an unidentified substance when he collapsed from exhaustion. For three months afterward, he was isolated from the outside world, living in darkness and solitude. He was subsequently forcibly transferred near Nasser Hospital. During this transfer, after collapsing from extreme hunger and exhaustion, he was given an injection of an unknown substance. At the time, he feared he would face death or more severe torture.

The facility Braslavski arrived at was filled with densely packed tents, offering no privacy. Vehicles destroyed by missiles were converted into makeshift shelters. The environment was unsanitary, with camels and donkeys roaming freely, and people defecating in public areas. The extreme heat made it difficult to breathe. Braslavski lived in this location for four months.

The tent supervisor instructed guards not to abuse him, but one guard ignored the order. This individual brought food to Braslavski, spat on it, and forced him to eat it, constantly subjecting him to humiliation. When Braslavski opened a small vent to breathe, the guard blocked it, beat him when he complained about difficulty breathing, and laughed with his colleagues. The guard also showed him violent videos and arbitrarily tied his hands and feet.