According to an Israeli official, Hamas drugged hostages to make them appear “calm and happy” when they were released from captivity in Gaza. This revelation comes after a one-week truce, which saw scores of hostages being freed, collapsed. Israeli officials claim that Hamas militants captured approximately 240 hostages during their attacks on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
During the Qatar-mediated truce, 105 hostages were released, but the truce ended on Friday, leading to a resumption of devastating fighting in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. The government media office in Gaza reports that over 16,200 people, primarily civilians, have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
Hagar Mizrahi, the head of general medicine at Israel’s health ministry, informed lawmakers that sedatives like Rivotril, also known as Clonex, were administered to some of the hostages before their release last month. Mizrahi stated that the Hamas militants provided these pills to create an illusion of calmness and happiness before handing the hostages over to the Red Cross. However, she did not specify the source of this information or indicate the number of hostages who were given the sedatives.
Mizrahi further added that the hostages were also given some food just before their release to ensure they appeared to be in good health. Prior to the truce, five other hostages were released, including one who was rescued by Israeli troops. According to Israeli authorities, there are still 138 hostages remaining in Gaza.
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