Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to urgently deliver food and medical help to Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. This request comes as public concern grows after videos showed two captives looking very weak and sick.
The videos were released last week by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, showing hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski in poor health. These images have caused anger and sadness across Israel.
The videos sparked large protests, including a big rally in Tel Aviv where tens of thousands of people gathered, holding signs saying “Stop the war” and “Leave no one behind.” This showed how deeply frustrated the public is with the situation.
On August 4, Netanyahu’s office confirmed he spoke with Julien Lerisson, the head of the ICRC in the region, urging them to send immediate aid to the hostages. The Red Cross called the videos “shocking” and said the situation needs to end.
World leaders also condemned the videos. French President Emmanuel Macron said the footage was “unbearable.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the images prove Hamas should have no role in Gaza’s future.
Hamas said they are willing to work with the Red Cross but only if safe humanitarian corridors are opened. They said the hostages’ poor health shows how bad the crisis in Gaza has become. A Hamas military spokesman said the hostages get the same food as fighters and civilians and will not receive special treatment during the siege.
A Hamas official said the videos are proof of hunger in Gaza. The World Health Organization has recently reported a rise in deaths from malnutrition, especially among children, and said health services in Gaza are collapsing.
Getting aid to Gaza is still dangerous. On Sunday, 13 people were killed and many were hurt in a shooting near a place where aid was being handed out in northern Gaza.
So far, Hamas has refused to allow the Red Cross to visit the hostages, only helping with some limited releases. In March, the Red Cross said it was very disappointing they could not see the hostages despite many attempts.
If Hamas allows access now, it would be a big change in their policy.
Talks about a ceasefire remain stalled. Last month, U.S. and Israeli negotiators were pulled back, blaming Hamas for poor cooperation and lack of willingness to make a deal. Netanyahu said Hamas does not want a deal but wants to break Israel through frightening propaganda videos.
An Israeli official told CNN that Netanyahu is now focusing on freeing hostages by military means, even though families worry this could put the captives at risk. The official said talks with the U.S. show growing agreement that Hamas is not serious about making a deal.
Netanyahu is reportedly looking for a plan that combines military pressure with more humanitarian aid in parts of Gaza not controlled by Hamas.
About 50 Israeli hostages are believed to still be in Gaza, with at least 20 thought to be alive. Their families say that help from the Red Cross alone is not enough and want Netanyahu to negotiate for their release.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Netanyahu’s promises to free hostages through military victory are false and a public lie. They also called Hamas a cruel terrorist group that has treated innocent civilians badly for more than 660 days.
Even though Hamas says it is still open to talks, sources told CNN that the group has stopped participating in negotiations until the humanitarian situation in Gaza improves.
A poll from the Israel Democracy Institute in March showed that more than 70% of Israelis supported negotiating with Hamas to end the fighting and bring the hostages home.
