My team and I met today with families of people abducted from southern #Israel on 7 October by Hamas and heard firsthand the tragedy, trauma and suffering they are facing. We are gravely concerned by the humanitarian and health situation facing approximately 200 people, including health workers and up to 30 children. @WHO calls for the immediate release of all the hostages, along with urgent access to each of them and delivery of medical care. There is an urgent need for the captors of the hostages to provide signs of life, proof of provision of health care and the immediate release, on humanitarian and health grounds, of all those abducted.   Many of the hostages, including children, women and the elderly, have pre-existing health conditions requiring urgent and sustained care and treatment. The mental health trauma that the abducted, and the families, are facing is acute and psychosocial support is of great importance. WHO stands ready to provide the @ICRC, which is mandated to provide support to hostages in conflict situations, with any health support for the hostages. I thank the families for sharing their heartbreaking stories. I committed, on behalf of WHO, to do all we can to support the health and humanitarian needs of those being held captive. All civilians who are suffering in this conflict must be protected.