In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel by Hamas terrorists, more than 130 Israelis are still being held hostage, and a new report revealed worries that any might have become pregnant from sexual abuse by their captors in the Gaza Strip.

Israel's Ministries of Welfare and Health are now working on comprehensive plans to address the potential issue of unwanted pregnancies, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

Officials are considering bypassing the typical pregnancy termination committee to streamline the process for former captives, acknowledging the urgency of the situation. Preliminary information through online videos suggests women, including young girls, were sexually abused during the initial attack and while in captivity.

Civilian authorities, working with Israel Defense Forces, are developing a program to coordinate resources for treating sexually abused hostages. The Wolfson Hospital in Holon is poised to provide medical and psychological help, having prepared infrastructure and protocols for receiving freed captives.

The proposed program includes a two-stage approach. In the first stage, medical staff will assess injuries and, if applicable, examine the development of any pregnancies. The second stage focuses on helping former hostages in processing their trauma, including deciding whether to terminate their pregnancy.

During a parliamentary discussion in the Knesset, Chen Almog-Goldstein, who spent more than 50 days as a hostage in Gaza, highlighted the concerning situation of younger female hostages who have stopped menstruating. The potential risks of unwanted pregnancies loom larger with every passing day they remain in captivity.

Relatives of female captives are urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and foreign leaders to expedite the release of hostages. There are concerns the longer the hostages are held, the higher the risk of pregnancies that might be too late to terminate.

Professor Tal Biron-Shental, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Meir Medical Center, emphasized the need to address this “theoretical possibility,” urging immediate action to prevent further atrocities and provide care for the captives upon their return.

Harrowing accounts from former hostages fuel fears of rampant sexual violence in Gaza. Aviva Siegel, a released captive, shared disturbing details with lawmakers about how female hostages were treated as "puppets" by the terror group. Eli Albag, whose daughter Liri, 18, is a hostage, expressed concern about the silence surrounding such atrocities, with released hostages hinting at disturbing events without providing explicit details.

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