Outrage erupted across Israel after Hamas released a video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David in an emaciated condition, standing shirtless in what appears to be an underground tunnel, his ribs and shoulders visible. David, 24, was kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and is seen in the footage alongside clips of severely malnourished Palestinian children. The video has fueled renewed anger and fear as reports from Gaza indicate that more than 90 children and nearly 170 people in total have died from hunger since the start of Israel’s offensive and the severe restrictions on humanitarian aid.
At a rally in Tel Aviv, David’s brother, Ilay, called on Israeli and U.S. leaders to take immediate action to secure his release, warning that his brother could die in captivity. The release of the video comes just days after another militant group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, released similar footage showing another hostage in frail condition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the families of the two hostages and expressed shock over the videos, accusing Hamas of deliberately starving both hostages and civilians. While Israel argues that Hamas diverts humanitarian aid, aid agencies and an internal U.S. review have reported no evidence of systematic theft. Humanitarian organizations say that despite a recent partial pause in Israeli military operations to allow more aid into Gaza, the crisis has already triggered famine-like conditions, with deaths from starvation mounting as Israel’s military campaign continues.
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