Urgent gathering of UN Security Council due to captives in Gaza Strip, as confirmed by Israel's Ambassador - Emergency session convened at the United Nations Security Council, focused on captives in Gaza, with Israel's envoy advocating for action.
Crisis in the Gaza Strip: Over 40 Israeli Hostages Held by Hamas
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, approximately 49 Israeli hostages remain captive in the Gaza Strip, with around 20 presumed alive and around 27-28 believed to have perished[1][2][4]. The hostages are reported to be in horrific and inhumane conditions, including malnutrition, as evidenced by recently released videos showing two hostages alive but emaciated[1][2][4].
Hamas, the primary captor, has held these individuals since its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Despite global condemnation and calls for their release as a violation of international law and war crimes, Hamas has not freed the hostages and has instead used video releases as an additional form of inhumane treatment[4].
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plays a crucial role as a humanitarian actor, advocating for humane treatment and access to hostages, consistent with international humanitarian law, and working to facilitate communication and aid[4][2]. However, specific details from these efforts are limited.
International leaders have taken a keen interest in the situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the immediate release of all hostages, stressing their dire conditions, and Israel holds Hamas responsible[2][3]. French President Emmanuel Macron, representing European concerns, supports discussions at the UN Security Council not only about releasing hostages but also addressing the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by ongoing restrictions and warfare[3].
Germany, under the leadership of Friedrich Merz, has also expressed condemnation of Hamas’s hostage-taking and is engaged diplomatically to urge their release and to contribute to a political solution involving a two-state outcome[3]. At the UN Security Council meeting on August 5, 2025, the worsening humanitarian situation and the hostage crisis were jointly addressed. The Council condemned hostage-taking as a violation of international law and called for an immediate, unconditional release of all hostages[2][3].
The UN emphasized there is no military solution to the conflict and reiterated the need for political frameworks to end the humanitarian catastrophe and secure lasting peace, including a sustainable two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders[2][3].
In summary:
| Actor | Role/Position | |-----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Hamas | Holds ~49 Israeli hostages in Gaza under dire conditions; refuses release despite global pressure. | | ICRC | Advocates humanitarian treatment, attempts to facilitate aid and access to hostages, upholds international humanitarian law. | | Benjamin Netanyahu| Demands hostage release, holds Hamas responsible, seeks international support. | | Emmanuel Macron | Supports international dialogue addressing hostage release and Gaza humanitarian crisis. | | Friedrich Merz | Condemns hostage-taking, participates in diplomatic efforts for release and peaceful political solution. |
The situation remains grave, with continued suffering among hostages and civilians, and international efforts focus on humanitarian access and political solutions to resolve the crisis[1][2][3][4].
- Despite the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip, the European Union, amidst war-and-conflicts and general-news, is also pushing for the establishment of a European police force to combat terrorism and for the European Union to take a more active role in the fight against terrorism, following the calls from leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations Security Council.
- Beyond the hostage crisis in the Gaza Strip, global leaders are also engaging in political discussions to find a sustainable two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders, addressing the underlying issues that have led to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as emphasized by the United Nations.
