Israel's Prime Minister, Netanyahu, reportedly stunned by the revelation of a Hamas video depicting an Israeli captive apparently digging his own grave
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the captivity of Israeli hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David remains a critical issue. The latest videos released by Hamas, showing the hostages in poor condition, have sparked renewed calls for a truce and hostage release deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed deep shock and outrage, accusing Hamas of intentionally starving the hostages. In response, Netanyahu has vowed to complete the defeat of Hamas in Gaza to secure the release of all hostages, and has decided to pursue the full occupation of the Gaza Strip, including military operations in areas where hostages might be held.
Netanyahu described the videos as "horrifying," emphasizing Hamas’s cruelty in starving the hostages like the Nazis starved Jews, and vowed not to be broken by Hamas’s propaganda or tactics. On August 5, 2025, he stated that it is "necessary to complete the defeat of Hamas in Gaza to free all our hostages" and indicated that the Israeli military might seek to conquer the entire Gaza Strip.
Internationally, there has been condemnation and concern over the deterioration of the hostages and the humanitarian consequences of expanding the conflict. UN officials have warned of "catastrophic consequences" should fighting intensify further.
The David family issued a statement, stating that the deliberate starvation of their son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen. Kaja Kallas, EU foreign policy chief, called for the immediate release of all hostages and for Hamas to disarm and end its rule in Gaza. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot echoed similar sentiments, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and for Hamas to be disarmed and excluded from ruling Gaza.
Tens of thousands of people had rallied in Tel Aviv to urge Netanyahu's government to secure the release of the remaining captives. Over the past few days, Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have released three videos showing the hostages, who were captured during an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
As per the Israeli military, 27 of the 49 remaining hostages are feared dead. Around 100 to 150 hostages were released during truce pauses in November 2024 and earlier this year. The Hamas attack of 2023 in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the capture of around 250 hostages.
The ongoing captivity of Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David under Hamas in Gaza continues to drive Israel’s intensified military campaign, amid significant international concern and condemnation regarding civilian casualties and humanitarian impact. Efforts to return all hostages are ongoing.
- The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to renewed calls for a truce and hostage release deal, with the captivity of Israeli hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David remaining a critical issue.
- The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has accused Hamas of intentionally starving the hostages and has vowed to complete the defeat of Hamas in Gaza to secure the release of all hostages, potentially leading to the full occupation of the Gaza Strip.
- Internationally, there has been condemnation and concern over the deterioration of the hostages and the potential humanitarian consequences of expanding the conflict, with UN officials warning of "catastrophic consequences" should fighting intensify.
- Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, and French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot, among others, have called for the immediate release of all hostages, urging Hamas to disarm and end its rule in Gaza.
- As the captivity of Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David continues, efforts to return all hostages are ongoing amid significant international concern and condemnation regarding civilian casualties and humanitarian impact in the ongoing military campaign.
