Hamas Releases Hostage Video, Netanyahu ‘Shocked’ as Global Pressure Mounts for Truce

As the devastating war in Gaza grinds on, Palestinian militant group Hamas has released another disturbing video of two remaining hostages, intensifying public outrage and diplomatic pressure on Israel’s leadership. The video, showing Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, has reportedly left Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in “profound shock”, according to a statement from his office.

Netanyahu Speaks to Families, Reaffirms Rescue Efforts

Following the video’s release, Netanyahu personally contacted the families of the hostages, reiterating that efforts to secure their release are ongoing. His office emphasized that Israel is pursuing “every possible avenue” to bring the hostages home.

Hostages Seen Emaciated and Desperate

In one of the clips, 24-year-old Evyatar David breaks down on camera, describing his physical and emotional deterioration.

“What I’m doing now is digging my own grave. Every day my body becomes weaker and weaker… Time is running out,” David says, visibly exhausted.

His family issued a searing statement, condemning Hamas for using starvation and suffering as a propaganda tool:

“The deliberate starvation of our son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen.”

Public Anger and Massive Protests in Israel

The hostage videos triggered a renewed wave of protests across Israel, with tens of thousands rallying in Tel Aviv to demand urgent action from Netanyahu’s government. Israeli media outlets have widely published images from the videos. Maariv described the scenes as “hell in Gaza,” while Yedioth Ahronoth featured a gaunt and “desperate” David. The editorial in Haaretz sharply criticized the government, stating:

“Netanyahu is in no rush to bring them home.”

Netanyahu Urges Red Cross to Intervene

In response to the grim footage, Netanyahu appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross, urging them to deliver food and immediate medical aid to hostages still held in Gaza. He reportedly spoke with Julien Lerisson, head of the Red Cross delegation in the region, to push for humanitarian access.

Global Condemnation Mounts

The videos have sparked widespread international condemnation:

• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the images “appalling” and a testament to Hamas’s brutality, urging the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

• France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot, despite backlash over Paris’s recognition of Palestine, condemned the footage as “despicable” and called for Hamas to be disarmed and excluded from governance in Gaza.

The Broader Toll

The October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel killed around 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of roughly 250 hostages. While some hostages were released during truce pauses in late 2024 and early 2025, 49 remain in captivity, with 27 feared dead.

Meanwhile, Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 60,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Strip, with a significant number being women and children.