President, aid me in retrieving my son from the depths of torment
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, videos released by the Palestinian terrorist group Islamic Jihad have shown the emaciated and visibly suffering Rom Braslavski, a 22-year-old American-Israeli hostage who has been held captive in Gaza for 670 days.
The latest propaganda video shows Braslavski pleading for his life and appearing to have lost all hope, with his eyes turned off and a gaunt physique. This grim portrayal has sparked international concern, as it is clear that the terrorists are deliberately starving Braslavski.
As of early August 2025, there are 49 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza by Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas; among them, the Israeli military states that 27 are deceased. The plight of these hostages needs immediate attention, with no phases, conditions, or silence.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has released a photo of Braslavski with his father during happier times, serving as a stark reminder of the innocent lives being held captive. The situation is a call to action for global leaders to take a stand against terrorism and protect these lives.
Efforts to secure their release have involved international condemnation and UN engagement. The United Nations Security Council has held emergency meetings to address the hostage crisis. Senior UN officials, including Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN human rights chief, have condemned the treatment of hostages as a violation of human dignity and have called for their immediate and unconditional release.
Diplomatic statements from countries such as France have demanded an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, return of bodies, and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. UN officials emphasize that resolving the hostage crisis and broader Gaza conflict requires a political solution that includes humanitarian aid, ending hostilities, and addressing long-term peace frameworks.
However, the situation remains grave with urgent humanitarian and political efforts ongoing but no confirmed large-scale release of remaining hostages yet. Ofir Braslavski, Rom's father, is urgently appealing to President Trump to use his power, influence, and leadership to demand the immediate release of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza.
The situation is not just an Israeli tragedy, but a global test of conscience. The actions of Hamas on October 7 were not just terror, but an assault on civilization itself. The family of Braslavski, including Anat Angrest and Lishay Lavi-Miran, have been discussing the situation and efforts to release those still held in Gaza on 'Special Report.'
As the world watches the horrifying propaganda videos, the urgent call for action is clear. The lives of these hostages hang in the balance, and every day that nothing changes is another day they may not survive. The international community must come together to demand their immediate and unconditional release.
- The international community, including political leaders and human rights advocate, have expressed their strong opinions against the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza, particularly the mistreatment and deliberate starvation of hostages like Rom Braslavski, viewing it as a violation of human dignity and a callous disregard for general-news and crime-and-justice.
- As the crisis in Gaza unfolds, with 49 Israelis still held hostage, there is a growing sense of urgency in the general-news and politics spheres to seek immediate and unconditional releases, involving international condemnation, UN engagement, and diplomatic efforts from countries like France, all aimed at instigating crime-and-justice to secure the lives of these captives.
