Israel seeks Red Cross aid for Gaza hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene and provide food and medical care to hostages being held in Gaza.

This appeal comes after disturbing videos surfaced showing two Israeli captives, Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, appearing extremely malnourished and frail.

Netanyahu, in a conversation with ICRC regional coordinator Julien Lerisson on Sunday, urged immediate humanitarian access to the hostages. In response, the ICRC expressed alarm at the footage, saying it was “appalled by the harrowing videos” and reiterated its appeal for access to the captives.

Hamas’s armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, countered that it would permit the Red Cross to visit the hostages only if humanitarian corridors for aid distribution across Gaza were first opened.

The group claimed it was not deliberately starving the captives but said they would not receive any special food privileges amid the widespread hunger and siege in the region.

In recent days, Hamas and Islamic Jihad released videos of the two hostages, seized during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing conflict.

The videos, particularly one showing David digging what he claimed was his own grave, have reignited public calls in Israel for a truce and hostage release deal.

Netanyahu reportedly told the families of the hostages that efforts to bring them home are ongoing and expressed deep shock over the videos.

Tens of thousands of Israelis also marched in Tel Aviv over the weekend, demanding stronger government action to free the remaining captives.

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency session on Tuesday to discuss the worsening hostage situation. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the videos as evidence of Hamas’s brutality and called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all captives.

She also insisted that Hamas must disarm and end its rule in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deteriorate. On Sunday, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli troops opened fire on civilians waiting for food at an aid distribution site run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation near Rafah, killing nine. An additional five were reportedly killed at another aid location in central Gaza, and more deaths occurred in Israeli strikes across the enclave.

The images of the emaciated hostages have highlighted the urgent need for action. Israel claims 49 hostages remain in captivity, including 27 who are believed to be dead. Most of the original 251 hostages were released during brief ceasefires in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

According to official tallies, Hamas’s October 2023 assault killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,430 people, largely civilians, as per figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which the UN considers credible.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that one of its staff was killed in an Israeli strike on its Khan Yunis headquarters on Sunday. The Israeli military claimed it had no knowledge of such a strike. Due to severe access restrictions, independent verification of these reports remains difficult.