فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Cairo – FesNews:
In a new escalation of the Gaza hostage crisis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday requested assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide “food” and “medical treatment” for Israeli hostages held in the devastated enclave, while Hamas conditioned this on opening “humanitarian corridors.”
This followed Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad’s release Thursday of three videos showing two Israeli hostages in extreme exhaustion, reigniting intense debate in Israel about the urgent need for an agreement to free captives abducted during Hamas’s unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack.
In the Palestinian territory—ravaged by 22 months of war and facing “widespread famine” per UN warnings—Civil Defense reported 26 people killed during the day by Israeli fire or bombardment, including nine awaiting aid near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) center in the south, supported by Israel and the U.S.
Netanyahu’s office stated he “spoke with the head of the ICRC delegation in our region and requested his involvement to provide food to our hostages and administer immediate medical treatment.” Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades responded they were “ready to respond positively” to any ICRC request but demanded “the opening of humanitarian corridors (…) for food and medicine passage” into Gaza as a prerequisite.
“Hostages Eat What Gazans Eat”
Hamas asserted that “Al-Qassam Brigades do not deliberately deprive prisoners of food, but they eat what our fighters and all our people eat,” warning hostages “will receive no preferential treatment as long as the blockade and starvation policies continue.”
On platform X, the ICRC’s regional delegation expressed “deep dismay” after the hostage videos, insisting “this catastrophic situation must cease.” The ICRC declined further comment.
Netanyahu—under intense Israeli pressure to secure hostages’ return—previously expressed “profound dismay at the released footage” through his office, vowing continued “efforts to bring all our hostages home.” Tens of thousands had gathered in Tel Aviv the previous evening in solidarity with hostages’ families.
Global Outcry
The videos showed hostages Rom Breslevski and Evyatar David appearing severely weakened and emaciated, in scenes drawing parallels to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Footage of David digging his own grave with his hands in a narrow detention tunnel caused particular shock.
Netanyahu held a “lengthy conversation” with their families Saturday, his office reported. “Hamas’s cruelty knows no bounds,” he commented, reaccusing the group of “deliberately starving Gaza’s residents by blocking aid access.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas decried “horrific images,” while French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Hamas’s “abhorrent cruelty.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed being “horrified,” urging Israel to continue Gaza aid deliveries and avoid “responding to cynicism.”
Blockade and Starvation
Israel has besieged Gaza’s over 2 million Palestinians since the war began. Though it lifted a full humanitarian blockade in late May after imposing it in March, only limited aid quantities enter—deemed insufficient by the UN.
Witness Jabr Al-Sha’er, 31, near the GHF center stated: “Soldiers opened fire on people. I was there; no one posed a threat.” The Israeli army claimed no knowledge “of casualties from gunfire” in the area.
The army also said it was “examining” accusations from the Palestinian Red Crescent that one of its staff was killed overnight in an Israeli strike targeting the organization’s Khan Younis headquarters (south). The ICRC voiced “dismay,” demanding “respect” and “protection” for humanitarian personnel.
Stark Statistics
Of 251 abducted on October 7, 49 remain hostages in Gaza—including 27 declared dead by the Israeli army—after two truces freed others. The attack killed 1,400 people, mostly active-duty or reserve military personnel.
Israeli reprisals have killed at least 60,839 in Gaza—predominantly civilians—per Hamas health ministry data deemed reliable by the UN.
