Videos of emaciated hostages condemned as Red Cross calls for access
Both Braslavski, 21, and David, 24, were taken hostage from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. They are among 49 hostages, out of 251 originally taken, who Israel says are still being held in Gaza. This includes 27 hostages who are believed to be dead.After the videos were released, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the two hostage families, expressing "profound shock" and telling them that efforts to return all the hostages "will continue constantly and relentlessly".On Sunday, Netanyahu spoke to the head of the Red Cross in the region, requesting his immediate involvement in providing food and medical care to hostages.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was "appalled" by the videos that gave "stark evidence of the life-threatening conditions in which the hostages are being held". The charity reiterated its call to be granted access to the hostages to assess their condition, give them medical support and facilitate contact with their families.Hamas's armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades said it would respond positively to any Red Cross request to deliver food and medicine to prisoners if humanitarian corridors were opened into Gaza on a regular and permanent basis, and air strikes halted during the time of receiving aid.The Red Cross has faced heavy criticism in Israel over its role in the war, with claims that it has failed to help the hostages being held in Gaza.Earlier this year, amid anger over chaotic scenes as hostages were freed as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas, the organisation explained the limits of its role, saying it relies on the warring parties' goodwill to operate in conflict zones. There has also been criticism from Palestinians, as the group has not been allowed to visit Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails since 7 October 2023. At the weekend in Tel Aviv, crowds of protesters and hostage families gathered once again, calling on the Israeli government to secure the release of hostages. David and Braslavski's families said at a rally on Saturday that "everyone must get out of hell, now."In one video, Braslavski is seen crying as he says he has "run out of food and water" and only ate three falafels that day. He says he is unable to stand or walk, and "on the verge of death".Braslavski's family in a statement said "they managed to break Rom" and pleaded to Israeli and US leaders to bring their son home."He has simply been forgotten there," they said.
In the second video, David said "I haven't eaten for days... I barely got drinking water" and is seen digging what he says will be his own grave.His family said he was being "deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas's tunnels in Gaza - a living skeleton, buried alive".
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was "appalled" by the images, adding the release of all hostages was a mandatory prerequisite for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.French President Emmanuel Macron, who said Hamas embodies "abject cruelty", added France continues to work tirelessly towards the release of hostages, to restore a ceasefire, and to enable humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.He said this effort must be accompanied with a political solution, with a two-state solution "with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace". France recently announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state, along with Canada and the UK, under certain conditions. Israel has strongly condemned the moves.The images of emaciated hostages are coming out as UN-backed agencies have said the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" in Gaza, with malnutrition deaths reported daily.The Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday that 175 people, including 93 children, have died of malnutrition since the start of the war.The UN, aid agencies and some of Israel's allies blame the hunger crisis on Israeli restrictions on the entry and delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel denies the allegation and blames Hamas.Despite the overwhelming evidence, Israeli authorities, and part of the country's press, strongly reject that there is starvation in Gaza, and say the crisis is a lie fabricated by Hamas and spread by international media.Some pictures of emaciated children have been displayed by Israeli protesters calling for a deal with Hamas, but many in Israel seem unaware of the extent of the emergency there.As the war continues, Israel faces growing international isolation, as the widespread destruction in Gaza and the suffering of Palestinians spark outrage. Polls around the world suggest that public opinion is increasingly negative about Israel, which is putting pressure on leaders to act.
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Family of hostage shown in photo say Hamas is 'deliberately' starving him
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The family of one of the few hostages still being held in Gaza has slammed Hamas for 'deliberately' starving him as part of a 'propaganda' campaign. Evyatar David, 24, was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, while attending the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel. He's been held in Gaza ever since, but new video footage of David has been released by Hamas showing him in a tunnel. While digging what he said was his own grave, David was heard saying in the video: 'I haven't eaten for days… I barely got drinking water.' His family said in a statement: 'We are forced to witness our beloved son and brother, Evyatar David, deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas's tunnels in Gaza – a living skeleton, buried alive.' Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, slammed the footage as an attempt to 'pressure Israel'. Israel has come under increased scrutiny as thousands of Gazans have begun to starve, due to a lack of aid allowed in at checkpoints along the border. On October 7, 2023, 251 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas during a cross-border attack. 49 remain in Gaza, 27 of which are believed to be dead. Elsewhere in Gaza, photos of starving Palestinians, some of them babies, have emerged in the past weeks, sparking public outcry for intervention in the conflict, which is about to enter its third year. Israel has denied any responsibility for what experts have deemed a famine, despite controlling the flow of all aid into the enclave. The UN documented dozens of deaths from malnutrition during the last week of July, citing some who collapsed in the streets while trying to reach food. The desperation for food has led to crowding at the few aid locations in Gaza. 73 people were killed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) while trying to reach aid. On July 30, blood mixed with flour as the dead were wheeled away in carts after the IDF opened fire at hundreds of Palestinians looking for food at an aid point in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defence Forces, who control the Zikim Crossing distribution point, admitted firing shots when their soldiers felt 'threatened'. Hours later, more than 48 were dead with hundreds more injured at the main entry point for humanitarian aid to northern Gaza, according to a local hospital. Hamas claimed the shooting lasted around three hours as thousands were funnelled towards the trucks delivering vital aid. More Trending The Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) say Israeli military has turned these humanitarian points into 'killing grounds, deliberately targeting civilians in their most vulnerable state'. In a statement, the IDF said: 'We place utmost importance on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and work to enable and facilitate the transfer of aid in coordination with the international community, and certainly do not intentionally act against humanitarian aid trucks.' What little food remains has been pushed to black-market extremities, as shown by prices shared with Metro by Christian Aid workers on the ground. A 25kg sack of flour is now more expensive than a Michelin-star dinner in Paris, costing as much as £414, compared to £8.80 before the start of the war. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: What does recognising Palestine as a state really mean? MORE: 'More than 48 Palestinians killed' while waiting for flour delivery in Gaza Strip MORE: Britain's stance on Palestine is becoming increasingly embarrassing
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