One soldier per child - avoiding questions to parents
On Friday, Israel may be able to free 50 hostages from the hands of Hamas. Among them are 30 children who are being accompanied home by soldiers. Instructions prepare them for the difficult task: Hugs are allowed, they are to remain silent about the whereabouts of their parents.
The Israeli government and army are preparing their soldiers with instructions for the imminent release of Israeli hostages. The instructions issued by the armed forces pay particular attention to children and any trauma they may have experienced in captivity. According to Israeli media reports, the instructions were drawn up by the Haruv Institute for Child Abuse in Jerusalem on behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. The ministry is said to have confirmed the authenticity of the document.
Hamas murdered around 1,200 Israelis in its massacre on October 7 and abducted around 240 as hostages in the Gaza Strip. The terrorist organization wants to release 50 of them in the first major exchange of hostages and prisoners. There is talk of 30 children, eight mothers and twelve other, mostly elderly women suffering from health problems. In return, Israel wants to release 150 Palestinian prisoners.
"I will bring you home"
The Israeli armed forces are therefore instructed, if possible, to provide each child with a male or female soldier as an escort on the way back to Israel from the Gaza Strip. When they receive the children, the soldiers should first introduce themselves: "Hi, I'm (name) and I'm a soldier in the Israeli army. You are safe. I will take you home."
Next, the soldiers should inquire about the children's well-being and ask if they are cold or warm and if they are thirsty. If they notice that the children are having difficulty walking, they may offer to carry them. However, as it is unclear what the children have experienced in captivity since October 7, they may only be lifted with explicit consent and otherwise not touched, according to the statement.
If the children are in a condition that leaves the soldiers no choice but to carry them, they are instructed to explain their actions in detail: "I will lift you up because ..."
Professional help for soldiers
Apart from that, the soldiers should avoid talking to the children as much as possible and avoid any questions: "We have to be quiet now. When we get back to Israel, all your questions will be answered." According to the report, six hospitals in Israel are ready to receive the hostages in separate areas.
Special care must be taken when the children ask about their parents: "They will ask where their mother or father is. These questions must not be answered, even if the answer is known," the instructions state. According to Israeli media, many of the abducted children lost one or even both parents in the Hamas massacre on October 7. Instead, the soldiers are supposed to reply: "I don't know. I am only here to bring you safely back to Israel."
The document also instructs the soldiers to seek professional help before and after the release of the children in order to be able to process the events, because: "When you meet the children, you must be a safe haven."
The Haruv Institute, based in Jerusalem, played a role in developing the instructions for soldiers involved in the release of Israeli hostages, as reported by Israeli media. Despite the trauma they may have endured, the released children will be accompanied by Israeli soldiers during their return home. The instructions emphasize the importance of avoiding discussing the children's parents' whereabouts, as they may have suffered loss during the Hamas massacre on October 7.
Source: www.ntv.de
