Noa Argamani, a former Israeli captive held in Gaza, has denied reports that she was beaten and had her hair cut by Hamas during her detention.

In a recent Instagram post, Argamani clarified that her earlier comments were taken out of context.

“They [Hamas] didn’t beat me and didn’t cut my hair,” she stated and explained that the injuries she suffered, including “cuts all over my head, and [being] hit all over my body,” were a result of a building being blown up by the Israeli Air Force, not due to any mistreatment by her captors.

The former hostage emphasised that she does not want to be victimised again by the media, stating: “As a victim of the October 7, I will not allow myself to be a victim again by the media.” Her comments referred to the start of hostilities last year.

Argamani’s clarification comes after her initial statement to Japanese diplomats in Tokyo on Thursday, which had prompted reports of alleged abuse during her detention in Gaza.

The former captive has now set the record straight, asserting that she was not beaten or mistreated by Hamas, but rather sustained injuries due to the conflict itself.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has escalated into a major humanitarian crisis, with devastating consequences for the Palestinian population. Following a Hamas attack on October 7 of last year, Israel launched an offensive on Gaza that has now continued for over 10 months, despite a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

According to local health authorities, the onslaught has resulted in the tragic loss of over 40,200 Palestinian lives, with the majority being women and children. Additionally, more than 93,000 people have suffered injuries due to the ongoing hostilities.

The blockade of Gaza has further exacerbated the crisis, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies, including food, clean water, and vital medical resources.