Israeli general: Hostages held in Hamas tunnels for eight months

Some of the hostages returned during the ceasefire were held in Hamas tunnels for eight months straight, an Israeli general said.

According to foreign media, the deputy chief of the Israeli army's medical corps, Colonel Doctor Avi Banov, said that the hostages were deprived of sunlight and had little or no human contact during their captivity.

Three civilians and four soldiers, all women, have returned so far during the ceasefire period.

In exchange, 290 Palestinian prisoners have also been released, writes A2 CNN.

Banov said: "Some of them told us they have been going all the time, in tunnels, underground."

The Israeli military is overseeing the first health check-up the hostages are receiving. Banov added that the hostages also said their treatment improved in the days leading up to their release.

He would not specify whether any of them showed signs of torture or abuse, but said some had not received proper treatment for injuries sustained during their capture on October 7, 2023.

The three civilians, freed on the first day of the ceasefire, were released from hospital on Sunday.

The four soldiers, released in the second ceasefire exchange on Saturday, were still being treated at another medical center.

Banov said he expected some of the hostages to be exchanged later to be "more ill." (A2 Televizion)