Following the release of the most recent video of Israeli hostages by Hamas, the family of Evyatar David, an Israeli man taken hostage in Gaza, has accused Hamas of starving him.
(The Post News)– The family of Evyata David, an Israeli hostage held in Gaza by Hamas, has accused Hamas of starving him. The accusation comes after Hamas released footage of Israeli hostages, in which David appeared to be emaciated and weak in a cramped concrete tunnel.
David’s family claimed in a statement that they are compelled to watch their beloved son and sibling shamelessly and purposefully suffer in Gaza’s tunnels run by Hamas. According to David’s family, he is a “living skeleton, buried alive.” The family further pleaded with Israel and the world to do everything possible to spare David’s life, including allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
The video, publicized by Hamas on Saturday, displayed David speaking in what appears to be a Hamas tunnel in Gaza. In visuals that have sparked anger and deep concern in Israel, David is seen digging what he claimed to be his grave. Additionally, in tense remarks, David encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to a ceasefire. The prime minister spoke with David’s family and the family of Rom Braslavski, another hostage shown on the Hamas-released video, according to Netanyahu’s office.
In an unsteady and slurred tone, David admitted that he had not “eaten for a few days in a row.” Additionally, in remarks that seem to be directed to the Israeli government, David said that there is not much time left and only they have the power to end this. Netanyahu’s office has confirmed that the prime minister had spoken to David’s family and the family of Rom Braslavski, another hostage who was on the video released by Hamas.
The video was released during U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Israel to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. On Saturday, Witkoff met with the families of hostages and informed them that the U.S. was advocating for a total conclusion of the war, including the release of all the remaining hostages.
On the evening of Saturday, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to demand the hostages’ release. Some of the hostages’ relatives set up a razor-wire-enclosed protest camp and put up images of the unreleased hostages. The families sat in the center of the campsite, which, according to them, was a representation of the captivity of their loved ones. Moreover, they demanded an end to the Gaza conflict, with some alleging that Netanyahu is prolonging the war to save his government coalition.
Meanwhile, Gaza is in the grip of famine, with widespread hunger increasing. The world community has expressed outrage over the escalating starvation in Gaza, which has killed 175 Palestinians, including children, and is putting pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire. The aid community attributes Gaza’s famine to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid, which Israeli authorities have denied, claiming that Hamas is purposely starving its hostages.
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