The family of Evyatar David, a 24-year-old Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, has accused the group of intentionally starving him as part of a propaganda effort.
Their statement came shortly after Hamas released a video showing Mr. David looking emaciated inside a narrow concrete tunnel.
In the video, Mr. David is heard saying, “I haven’t eaten for days… I barely got drinking water,” and is seen digging what he claims will be his own grave. The video has heightened concerns over his condition and the treatment of hostages taken during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The family described Evyatar as “a living skeleton, buried alive,” and called on the Israeli government and the international community to do everything possible to rescue him. They expressed distress over his dire condition and urged action.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed that he had spoken to the families of Evyatar and another hostage, Rom Braslavski. US envoy Steve Witkoff also met with families of some hostages, emphasizing international concern.
In response to the crisis, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv in support of hostage release efforts. Since Hamas’s attack, Israel reports that it has seized 251 hostages, with 49 believed to still be held in Gaza—some of whom are presumed dead.
Amid ongoing tensions, aid agencies have criticized Israel for allegedly weaponizing food in its conflict with Hamas, accusations the Israeli government denies. Israel asserts that there is no starvation in Gaza and that it is not restricting aid, although many European nations, the UN, and other organizations dispute these claims.
Recently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced they had airdropped 90 aid packages into Gaza, in cooperation with several countries including the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, France, and Germany, aiming to improve humanitarian conditions.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reports that seven more people, including a child, have died from malnutrition since the conflict intensified, bringing the total malnutrition-related deaths to 169, including 93 children. The ministry also reported at least 83 deaths and over 1,000 injuries in the past 24 hours from ongoing Israeli military operations.
Reports from Gaza, including from Al-Awda Hospital, indicate casualties near aid distribution points, with some hospitals receiving bodies of those killed by Israeli forces. The IDF states it has fired warning shots to prevent crowds from advancing towards military positions but emphasizes it is unaware of casualties resulting from these warnings.
Access to Gaza remains heavily restricted; international journalists face barriers to independent verification of claims. Israel maintains a blockade on aid deliveries since March, although some restrictions have been eased amid fears of famine. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza’s health authorities estimating over 60,000 deaths since the start of the Israeli military campaign, which began in response to the October 7 Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis.
