&w=3840&q=100)
‘Living skeleton': Who are the two Israeli hostages seen in new videos from Gaza?
Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski have been identified as the two Israeli hostages shown in recently released videos recorded by their captors.
Notably, Hamas shared two separate videos of David within less than two days. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group released a video showing Braslavski, appearing pale and frail, months after he was first seen on camera.
ALSO READ | Why Israel minister's visit to al-Aqsa mosque has sparked outrage
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which works in coordination with Hamas but operates independently, is holding at least one of the 49 hostages still believed to be in Gaza. Israeli authorities say around 20 of them may still be alive.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The release of these videos has been condemned by several Western leaders, while Israeli officials have accused Hamas of denying the hostages food.
Over the weekend, crowds gathered in Tel Aviv, including relatives of the hostages and protesters, once again urging the Israeli government to bring them home.
In this explainer, we break down who the hostages are and what is known about the developments so far.
Let's take a look:
Who is Evyatar David?
David was captured by Hamas during the attack on the Nova music festival in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. On that day, Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250 others.
David, who is 24 years old, has been held in Gaza ever since.
The latest footage shows him speaking from what looks like a Hamas tunnel. In moments that have shocked and upset many in Israel, he is seen digging what he says might be his own grave.
Speaking under pressure, he appeals to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire.
'Today is 27 July, at 12pm, I don't know what I'm going to eat. I haven't eaten for a few days in a row,' David says in a faint, strained voice. He then turns around and walks away, showing how thin he has become.
'Time is running out. You are the only ones who can end this,' he says, appearing to address Israel's leadership.
David's family later issued a statement, blaming Hamas for starving him for the purpose of propaganda.
'We are forced to witness our dear son and brother Evyatar being deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas's tunnels in Gaza – a living skeleton buried alive. Our son has only a few days left to live in his current condition,' their statement said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Starved. Broken. Forced to dig his own grave.
This is the real famine in Gaza - Palestinian Hamas is starving the hostages.
NEVER AGAIN IS NOW🎗️🎗️🎗️ pic.twitter.com/Ax0QqMYYnL — Israel ישראל (@Israel) August 3, 2025
The video has drawn criticism from Western countries. France, Germany, the UK and the US all expressed outrage. Israel's foreign ministry said the UN Security Council will hold a special session on Tuesday morning to discuss the hostage situation in Gaza.
Who is Rom Braslavski?
Braslavski was working as a security guard at the Nova music festival when he was kidnapped. Witnesses say he managed to help several people escape before being taken.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a video of Braslavski, saying it was recorded just days before they lost contact with the group that had been holding him. The group also claimed they were no longer aware of what had happened to him, according to The Times of Israel.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
In the video, 21-year-old Braslavski identifies himself and begs the Israeli government to secure his release.
He appears weak and pale, lying on the ground and watching a news report about the hunger crisis in Gaza.
His father, Ofir, reacted after the video was aired on Channel 12. 'What can I say? He's dying. You're watching your son dying before your eyes and there's nothing you can do,' he said.
What did Netanyahu say?
After the release of the videos, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the families of the two hostages.
He expressed 'profound shock' and assured them that efforts to bring all hostages home 'will continue constantly and relentlessly'.
On Sunday, Netanyahu also spoke with the regional head of the Red Cross, urging immediate help in providing food and medical care to the hostages.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was 'deeply shocked' as he watched the 'horrifying' videos released by Hamas of Israeli hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski pic.twitter.com/bT9YgV6q4z — Reuters (@Reuters) August 4, 2025
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reiterated its appeal to be allowed access to the hostages. The organisation said it wants to check on their condition, offer medical support and help them communicate with their families.
Over the weekend in Tel Aviv, crowds gathered once again, including families of hostages, calling on the Israeli government to take action and ensure the hostages' release.
At a rally on Saturday, the families of David and Braslavski said, 'everyone must get out of hell, now.'
Demonstrators take part in a protest to demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Reuters
What did Hamas say?
Hamas stated that any coordination with the Red Cross would depend on Israel keeping humanitarian routes open and stopping airstrikes while aid is being delivered.
In response to Israeli leaders accusing them of starving hostages, Hamas's armed wing denied doing so on purpose.
It claimed that hostages receive the same food as its fighters and civilians during the ongoing hunger crisis in Gaza.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled. Talks aimed at exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners have made little progress.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Last month, Israeli and American negotiators left Doha, Qatar, where the discussions are taking place, without reaching an agreement.
Mass hunger in Gaza
Aid groups have accused Israel of driving Gaza towards famine by using food as a tool in its war against Hamas, a claim that Israel denies.
Israel has said there is 'no starvation' in Gaza and that it is not blocking aid. However, several of its close allies in Europe, along with the UN and other humanitarian groups working in the region, have rejected these claims.
Palestinians carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
According to Gaza's health ministry, 175 people, including 93 children, have died from what international agencies warn may be the early stages of famine since the conflict began.
The ministry added that a lack of fuel has left hospitals struggling to operate, with doctors now focusing only on patients in the most critical condition.
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Rewriting the rules of school in Andhra Pradesh
The Telugu Desam Party-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh is revisiting the education sector reforms introduced by its predecessor and is making changes wherever deemed necessary. Minister for Human Resources Development Nara Lokesh has stated that policies yielding positive outcomes will be retained, while those that failed to deliver tangible results will be rolled back. The task being both critical and challenging, the Minister is taking an objective and balanced view of the educational landscape, recognising that the well-being and future of students must remain at the heart of the new initiatives. Officials in the education department are assessing what has worked, what needs improvement, and how best to move forward without causing inconvenience to stakeholders. The task at hand is to cater to the needs of 58,535 schools, 68,15,925 students, and 3,13,112 teachers across the State. Of these, 44,285 are government schools with 33,37,762 students and 1,84,898 teachers; 789 are aided schools with 87,612 students and 3,259 teachers; 13,461 private schools with 33,90,551 students and 1,24,955 teachers. According to Mr. Lokesh, the TDP government inherited an education system in a state of paralysis, lacking essential frameworks and operational efficiency — a charge refuted by the YSR Congress Party, which has accused him of 'systematically weakening the education sector in the State.' The data show that the State has 12,512 single-teacher schools, 5,312 government schools with single-digit enrolment, and 14,052 State-run schools with 20 or fewer students. The overall enrolment in government schools declined by 10,49,596 students between 2022 and 2024. With declining learning outcomes, the government faces the formidable challenge of reversing the trend to secure children's futures. A recent survey suggested that 84.3% of Class III students could not read a Class-II level text, 62.5 % of Class V students struggled with basic reading, 47% of Class VIII students still could not read Class II level text, 59.1 % of Class III students could not perform basic subtraction, 54.8 % of Class VIII students could not perform division and only 12.9% and of Class III students could solve basic division problems. Citing the dismal result of the survey, Mr. Lokesh has rolled back his predecessor's initiatives such as transition of the government schools to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 2022-23 without sufficient preparation, implementation of TOEFL in State-run schools at a cost of ₹58.84 crore, and the move to adopt International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum in government schools. A sum of Rs. 4.86 crore was paid for just the interim report for the proposed IB implementation. One of the most controversial decisions of the previous YSRCP government was GO 117, which reorganised schools and reapportioned teaching staff. The order divided schools into six categories and mandated the merger and de-merger of classes. The fragmentation of schools led to the number of schools having fewer than 10 students rising from 1,215 in 2021-22 to 5,312 in 2024-25, and schools with fewer than or equal to 20 students increasing from 5,520 to 14,052 during the same period, indicating a severe decline in student enrolment. To curb the ill effects of GO 117, the NDA government introduced GO 21, which revises the restructuring model by creating nine categories of schools. However, this faced trouble, with teacher unions raising serious concerns over its 'negative impact on the public education system'. GO 21 is part of the transformative journey called Learning Excellence in Andhra Pradesh, which aims to improve access, learning outcomes, and future-ready skills. The recently concluded 'Mega' DSC (District Selection Committee) exam, conducted to recruit 16,347 teachers in government schools after a gap of seven years, enhanced the government's image. Other welcomed steps include the introduction of academic star ratings to assess both student and teacher performance, targeted efforts to boost school enrolment in rural and tribal areas, and the consolidation of multiple teacher apps into a single platform. In intermediate education, curriculum and textbook revisions for first-year students are being implemented from the current academic year, aligning with the syllabus with national competitive standards. The revisions would be introduced for second-year students from the academic year 2026-27. The reach of the changes being made is very vast, and resistance to change is natural in large systems, especially when previous reforms are still being digested. The government should remain watchful of implementation gaps that often emerge. Due diligence is key to ensuring that the quality of learning improves without sacrificing stability.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Young MLA's intervention affecting talks'
Kochi: Amid intervention from various quarters for release of Nimisha Priya, who is on death row in Yemen, Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council alleged that intervention by a young MLA from Kerala is adversely affecting mediation talks. Treasurer of action council Kunhahammed Koorachund, without naming anyone, alleged that the MLA's aim was communal division and monetary gain. "The interest shown by the young MLA in Nimisha's case is having adverse effects in Yemen. Mediation talks in Yemen with the family of Talal, the deceased, are progressing well and were held with the intervention of Markaz-led religious scholars. During such talks, other interventions won't benefit Nimisha's case," he said. "We understand that some pastors intervened in the matter in Yemen. But that is turning out to be detrimental for Nimisha's release. Yemen being an Islamic nation, Christian pastors can't get a foothold with them," he said. TNN
Pink Villa
2 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Episode 9 Written Update: Tulsi and Mihir agree to Pari-Ajay's marriage but...
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Episode 9 Written Update: Hemant asks Tulsi not to worry, as Vrinda will come. However, Tulsi mentions that Sameer is locked in jail despite being innocent. Vrinda arrives. She is anxious before telling the truth to Tulsi and Hemant. Tulsi consoles her. Vrinda informs that she saw CCTV footage where she saw someone commit the accident and run away. Hemant and Tulsi realise that someone has tampered the evidence in order to trap Angad and Sameer. Vrinda gets worried after she confesses the truth. She asks Tulsi to keep her brother Nitin away from this case, as he might lose his job. Tulsi promises her that her family will be unharmed. Hemant then calls her friend to sketch the person who had committed the crime. Vrinda describes him to the painter. The sketch artist successfully paints Dhiren, the criminal. Pari and Ajay's marriage fixed Meanwhile, Ajay's family plans to visit Shanti Niketan. They ask Viren, who is their son-in-law, to join them to meet Virani's family. He agrees to visit. A corrupt cop meets Viren and informs him that Angad has been granted bail, but Sameer is in jail. Viren mentions that Angad was rich, but Sameer is poor, so no one will reach him and learn about his crime. Mihir gets emotional seeing Pari in a saree. Tulsi asks Angad and Hrithik to learn kitchen duties. The guests arrive. Pari and Tulsi arrive to meet the guests. Ajay's mother asks Pari to touch her feet. Mihir objects, but Pari does it. Ajay's mother then praises Pari for having clear skin. She compliments Pari for wearing a saree but mentions that she will always have to wear a saree every day after marriage. Tulsi informs her that her daughter also wears Western outfits, but Ajay's mother objects. Ajay's mother shoots several questions at Pari and asks her if she knows how to cook. She then tells Pari that she will have to cook every day after she comes to their house. She then tells Pari that she can't continue studying after marriage and will have to take care of all house duties. Mihir objects. He slams Ajay's mother for her regressive thinking and mentions how he doesn't differentiate between his daughter and sons. Ajay's mother refuses to listen to Mihir. She argues that she will never change her values. Mihir rejects the proposal and cancels the wedding. Ajay argues with his parents, saying that Mihir is right. He mentions how he gets stuck in business because of being less educated. He asks Pari if she can help him in the business, and she agrees. Pari and Ajay instantly connect. Ajay's mother agrees to their marriage. Their marriage is fixed. Ajay's mother requests to see Pari's room and her wardrobe. She sees Pari's wardrobe is organized and judges her on that basis. Tulsi gets worried. The episode ends.
