The distressing plight of Israeli hostage Evyatar David in Gaza has ignited international outrage, with his family accusing Hamas of deliberate starvation. A recently released video depicts David in an alarmingly emaciated and weak state, intensifying urgent calls for humanitarian intervention and his immediate release amid the ongoing Israeli-Gaza war. This harrowing footage has underscored the severe conditions faced by Israeli hostages held captive, highlighting the desperate need for aid in the besieged region.
In the deeply disturbing video, David is seen speaking from what appears to be a Hamas tunnel, his voice slurred and frail. He is shown undertaking the grim task of digging what he suggests could be his own grave, a scene that has provoked profound dismay across Israel. Under duress, he directly implores Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire, painting a stark picture of his deteriorating health and the urgent need for a resolution to the Gaza crisis.
“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 states weakly, his gaunt frame becoming painfully visible as he moves away from the camera. His desperate plea, “Time is running out. You are the only ones who can end this,” appears aimed squarely at Israel’s leadership, emphasizing the critical window for action to prevent further harm and address the severe impact of Hamas starvation tactics.
Evyatar David was among those tragically captured by Hamas militants at the Nova music festival in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, a day marked by widespread atrocities that saw approximately 1,200 people killed and 250 taken hostage. He remains one of the 49 individuals still held captive by Hamas in Gaza, with concerns mounting that only 22 of these Israeli hostages are believed to be still alive, intensifying the emotional toll on their families.
David’s family issued a heartbreaking statement, asserting, “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.” They have vociferously appealed for humanitarian aid entering Gaza to be directly channeled to David and have urged both the US and Israeli governments to exhaust all diplomatic avenues to secure his liberation.
The accusation of Hamas starvation tactics comes as Gaza grapples with a severe famine, with mass starvation reportedly on the rise across the territory. Israeli officials have countered these claims by accusing Hamas of deliberately withholding food and medical supplies from its own captives. In response to mounting pressure, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated on Sunday that he had engaged with Julien Lerisson, the regional head of the International Red Cross, requesting the organization’s assistance in delivering essential food and medical aid to the Israeli hostages.
Hamas, in turn, has expressed a conditional willingness to facilitate Red Cross aid to the captives, provided Israel halts “all forms of air traffic” during package deliveries and establishes permanent humanitarian corridors. This exchange unfolded as US envoy Steve Witkoff visited Israel to advance ceasefire discussions, meeting with families of some hostages and reiterating Washington’s commitment to a comprehensive end to the war that would include the release of all captives. The complexities of the Middle East conflict continue to challenge diplomatic efforts.
“We now need to bring all of them home. We are very close to ending the war,” Witkoff reportedly stated, according to a release by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Meanwhile, thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv, erecting a protest camp surrounded by razor wire to symbolize the captivity of their loved ones. These demonstrations underscore the widespread public outcry and the intense pressure on the Israeli government to prioritize the return of the Israeli hostages amidst the protracted Gaza crisis.
Ceasefire negotiations collapsed two weeks prior, with both the US and Israel accusing Hamas of bad-faith bargaining, an accusation Hamas denied, instead blaming Israel for stalling. International concern over the growing Gaza famine, which has claimed 175 lives, including 93 children, continues to mount. Despite aid agencies blaming Israel’s blockade, a claim Israel denies, the situation remains dire. Netanyahu’s consideration of a renewed offensive amidst stalled talks underscores the severe challenges in resolving the deeply entrenched Middle East conflict.
