Footage of emaciated captives in Gaza Strip elicits widespread shock and distress - Taped footage depicting emaciated hostages in Gaza elicits widespread distress
The Gaza Strip is currently facing a catastrophic humanitarian situation, with over a hundred aid organizations warning of "mass starvation" in the Palestinian territory. This dire situation is largely due to Israel's military response to the Hamas attack and the subsequent blockade, which has limited the flow of aid supplies.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has accused Hamas of intentionally starving the residents of Gaza and denying them access to aid, while also holding 49 hostages since the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. The Israeli military claims that at least 27 of these hostages have died.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad have distributed several propaganda videos of the hostages, including German-Israeli citizen Braslavski and 24-year-old Evyatar David. In one video, Braslavski is forced to watch news videos about the famine among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, while another shows David appearing emaciated, seemingly digging his own grave in a narrow tunnel. The parents of Evyatar David have accused Hamas of using their son as a living experiment in a horrifying hunger campaign.
The EU's High Representative, Kaja Kallas, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and for comprehensive humanitarian aid to reach those in need in the Gaza Strip. He also urged Hamas to lay down its weapons and end its rule in the Gaza Strip.
International pressure is growing on Israel to allow more aid supplies into the Gaza Strip and to agree to a new ceasefire. The Israeli military chief, Eyal Zamir, has threatened to continue fighting in the Gaza Strip if the remaining Israeli hostages are not released soon. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, demanding the release of the hostages.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has accused Hamas of forcing the hostages to dig their own graves, while US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has met with relatives of the hostages in Tel Aviv, promising to work with US President Donald Trump to secure their release.
The UN Security Council is set to discuss the hostage situation, with countries including France and the UK supporting the discussions. The UN Security Council meetings provide a platform for these efforts, reflecting international consensus on the importance of resolving this complex crisis. The High-level International Conference held in late July at UN Headquarters issued a document urging Hamas to free the hostages and disarm as part of steps toward ceasefire and political resolution, with the League of Arab States endorsing this position for the first time regarding Hamas.
The World Food Programme warns of severe acute malnutrition risks among Gaza’s children, highlighting the broader humanitarian crisis accompanying the hostage issue. Therefore, international organizations and states are actively engaging principally through the UN framework to secure the hostages' release while addressing the deteriorating humanitarian context in Gaza.
- The European Union, through its High Representative, Kaja Kallas, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in the Gaza Strip, as well as the provision of comprehensive humanitarian aid to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory.
- In the context of the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip, where over a hundred aid organizations have warned of "mass starvation," the European Parliament, through its members, has urged Hamas to lay down its weapons, end its rule, and allow for the free flow of medical-conditions supplies to address the health-and-wellness needs of the affected population.
- Amidst the growing international pressure on Israel to allow more aid supplies into the Gaza Strip and to agree to a new ceasefire, the European Commission has emphasized the importance of science and evidence-based decision-making in resolving the complex crisis, ensuring the general-news coverage accurately reflects the situation, and addressing the crime-and-justice issues surrounding the hostage situation and the broader political affairs in the region.
