Global Hostages Face Imminent Peril: Israeli Embassy Urges International Intervention - World Urges Immediate Action: Israeli Embassy Warns of Grave Threat to Hostages
Urgent Call for Action: Critical Condition of Hostages Held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza Strip
The international community is facing a critical humanitarian crisis as hostages held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip are reported to be in acute danger of death. A medical report, commissioned by the Israeli Forum of Hostages' Families, states that the hostages are in a life-threatening situation (Lebensgefahr).
The report, published the previous day, was compiled using various sources, including video footage, eyewitness accounts, and autopsy reports of hostages who were murdered in a state of extreme starvation. Particularly alarming were the recent propaganda videos of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, both of whom were abducted on October 7, 2023, during Hamas' attack on the Nova music festival.
In the videos, David appears to be digging his own grave in a narrow tunnel, while Braslavski tearfully pleads for his freedom. David, aged 24, is estimated to weigh around 40 to 45 kilograms, having lost nearly half of his body weight. Braslavski, aged 22, is also severely underweight and at high risk.
The current situation of the hostages is dire, with both being in acute danger of death. Food, clean water, and medication must be provided to the hostages immediately. Independent medical access must also be secured for them.
The international community is urged to exert political and diplomatic pressure on Hamas and its supporters to secure the immediate release of all surviving hostages and the return of the bodies of the deceased. The United Nations, including its Secretary-General António Guterres and the Special Rapporteur on Torture, have condemned hostage-taking as a war crime and called for humane treatment and access to detainees by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The UN Security Council has held urgent briefings, supported by Israel and members including France and the UK, to push for hostages' release while also addressing the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where famine and severe food shortages are worsening. France explicitly condemned the cruel treatment of hostages and demanded an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, and the release of hostages and bodies held by Hamas.
The League of Arab States also endorsed calls for Hamas to free the hostages and disarm, marking a notable regional stance toward resolving the crisis. However, Israel accuses Hamas of intentionally starving the hostages, while Hamas denies this and counters that the hostages face similar conditions as the wider Gaza population, which itself suffers from severe deprivation due to Israeli restrictions.
The situation remains critical, and the international community is asked to act urgently to secure the release of the hostages and provide humanitarian relief in Gaza.
[1] Israeli Forum of Hostages' Families, Medical Report (2023). [2] French Foreign Ministry, Statement on the Hostage Situation in Gaza (2023). [3] United Nations, Press Release: UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in Gaza (2023). [4] United Nations, Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2023). [5] United Nations, Statement by the Secretary-General on the Situation in Gaza (2023).
The European Union must prioritize its politics and foreign policy to address the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, particularly the critical situation of hostages in Gaza, as the principles of the EU emphasize the importance of human rights and humanitarian aid.
In light of the urgent call for action, the international community, including the European Union, should intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, as highlighted in the general news, to prevent further casualties and deter such actions in the future.
