Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised the alarm once again over the condition of Israeli hostages in Gaza, calling on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to act fast.
His request follows the release of disturbing video clips showing two captives in poor physical condition sending shockwaves through the country.
The videos, shared by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, revealed hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski looking thin and weak.
The footage stirred emotions across Israel, leading to major protests.
At one large rally in Tel Aviv, people held signs saying “Stop the war” and “Leave no one behind,” expressing their growing frustration with the prolonged conflict.
Following the public outrage, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that he contacted Julien Lerisson, the Red Cross official in the region.
In the call, Netanyahu urged immediate humanitarian aid for the captives.
The ICRC later described the footage as “appalling” and stated that the situation “must come to an end.”
Meanwhile, global leaders are reacting strongly to the footage.
French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unbearable,” while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the scenes prove that “Hamas should have no role in Gaza’s future.”
Despite these concerns, Hamas responded by blaming the crisis on Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
A Hamas military wing spokesperson said, “They will not receive special privileges amid the crime of starvation and siege.”
Moreover, Hamas’ Izzat al-Rishq said the condition of the hostages reflects the widespread hunger in Gaza.
The World Health Organization has also warned about increasing hunger-related deaths among children, describing the situation as “alarming.”
The Red Cross has been denied direct access, despite its efforts to check on the captives.
In March, the ICRC said the lack of access was “hugely disappointing.”
On Sunday, 13 people were reportedly killed during a shooting near an aid point in northern Gaza.
So far, Hamas has only allowed the Red Cross to help in limited hostage exchanges.
Ceasefire negotiations are still stuck. Talks led by the U.S. have slowed down, with a U.S. Special Envoy blaming Hamas for poor coordination.
Netanyahu echoed this, saying, “Hamas doesn’t want a deal. They want to break us with horrifying propaganda videos.”
An Israeli official also told CNN that the prime minister is now weighing military efforts to rescue the captives.
“We’re in talks with the Americans, and there’s increasing recognition that Hamas is not serious about a deal,” the official noted.
Currently, at least 50 Israeli hostages are believed to be in Gaza. Reports suggest that 20 may still be alive, and their families are pushing for more than just Red Cross support.
They also blamed Hamas for the harsh conditions the captives are facing. “An evil terrorist organization,” the group wrote, describing how hostages have been kept in suffering for over 660 days.
A past poll by the Israel Democracy Institute showed that over 70% of Israelis support negotiations to end the war and bring the captives home.
