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How will Israel deal with the pregnant hostages held by Hamas?

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Nine months have passed since 12 women were kidnapped and held captive by Hamas, and the horrifying possibility of pregnancy during captivity has resurfaced. A new medical document reviewing the medical literature highlights the expected medical, psychological and social problems that could arise should one of the raped hostages become pregnant.

The article was published in the latest issue of the Israel Medical Association’s journal “Harefuah” and was written by Dr. Lea Shelef of the School of Social Work at Sapir College and psychiatrist Dr. Gil Salzman of Geha Hospital.

The authors point out that rape has been systematically used as a method of exterminating populations in several wars around the world. Examples include the attacks by ISIS since 2014 during the wars in Iraq and Syria, and the mass rapes of women in the wars in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

Several studies examining the psychological consequences of rape in women who survived war conditions showed that they suffer from a range of mental illnesses, including anxiety, depression, dissociative disorders, sexual dysfunction, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide attempts. The risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after rape is 6.2 times higher, and when women are exposed to other traumatic events such as physical assault, torture, murder, or the rape of others, PTSD is associated with severe long-term mental disorders. A review of the literature shows that the chance of pregnancy resulting from rape in captivity can be as high as 20%.

Ironically, ISIS’s “rape law” prohibits the rape of pregnant women, so the organization prevents women captured and turned into sex slaves from becoming pregnant. But according to the murderous organization’s cruel ideology, which is emulated by Hamas, a woman’s pregnancy essentially converts her and her children to Islam, and she should be grateful for it for the rest of her life.

A screenshot from the video detailing the kidnapping of IDF observers on October 7, 2023. (Source: Screenshot)

An official ISIS leaflet about prisoners states that a fighter can rape a woman he enslaves under almost any circumstances, even if she is a child, but he must make sure she is not pregnant. Some survivors reported being given birth control pills or the morning-after pill while in captivity.

How can Israel help hostages who have been subjected to sexual violence in captivity?

Although the thought that pregnancy can occur as a result of rape in captivity is difficult to bear, the researchers stress the need to prepare for any scenario. This includes using all known methods of trauma treatment to alleviate suffering and promote resources through tools that restore a sense of safety.

The method of terminating a pregnancy depends on the age of the fetus and the time of the decision. In the first weeks of pregnancy, pregnancy can be terminated using relatively simple methods, medical or surgical. In pregnancies beyond the viability threshold of 24 weeks, termination occurs through the death of the fetus in the womb and the emptying of the uterus in a stillbirth, a traumatic event that requires close psychological care.

In summary, experts recommend that treatment teams be prepared for any scenario, including situations in which a woman chooses to continue the pregnancy for religious reasons.

“It is crucial to respect the victim’s decision without prejudice from the medical team. However, the transition from total lack of autonomy in captivity to freedom can be confusing and the team must provide counselling support when the victim has difficulty making a decision. Even in the most severe cases in the literature, appropriate and sensitive treatment showed an improvement in the emotional state of a significant proportion of victims.”



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