JERUSALEM, Aug 4: New images of emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza have horrified Israelis and added pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, even as his government considers another expansion of the nearly 22-month war. Videos released late last week by militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad show two skeletal hostages pleading for their lives. In one, Evyatar David says he is digging his own grave and speaks of days without food. In the other, Rom Braslavsky writhes in agony on a dirty mattress and says injuries in his foot prevent him from being able to stand.
The videos led tens of thousands of Israelis to take to the streets on Saturday night and demand a ceasefire deal, in one of the largest turnouts for the weekly protests in recent months. The videos were released as warnings about famine among Palestinians are growing in Gaza. Images of starving Palestinians have drawn international condemnation of Israeli policies limiting aid deliveries into the territory. Families of the hostages fear that the lack of food threatens the remaining hostages, too. Fewer than half of the 50 hostages are believed to be alive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the Red Cross to ask for access to the hostages, which the organization says it has never been granted by Hamas. The International Committee of the Red Cross called for access to the hostages. Hamas’ military wing said it was ready to respond positively to Red Cross requests to deliver food to hostages, if humanitarian corridors for aid deliveries are opened in a “regular and permanent manner” in Gaza.
Israel’s mission to the UN requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the hostages, which will take place Tuesday. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said he will travel to New York for the meeting. Israel’s government has denied that people are starving to death in Gaza. (AP)
