Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 12:31 EAT on Monday 4 August 2025

Western leaders have condemned newly released videos showing visibly emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) renewed urgent calls for access to all captives still in detention.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the footage as “sickening,” stating that “images of hostages being paraded for propaganda are sickening,” and called for their “unconditional” release.

The condemnation follows the release of two separate videos: on Thursday, Palestinian Islamic Jihad published footage of Rom Braslavski, who appeared gaunt and distressed; and on Saturday, Hamas released a video of Evyatar David, also visibly emaciated and in poor condition.

Israeli officials accused Hamas of deliberately starving the hostages. In response, Hamas’s armed wing denied intentional mistreatment, claiming that captives receive the same food as its fighters and civilians, amid Gaza’s deepening hunger crisis.

The ICRC said it was “appalled” by the videos, which it described as “stark evidence of the life-threatening conditions in which the hostages are being held.” The organization reiterated its calls to be granted immediate access to all hostages to assess their condition, provide medical care, and facilitate contact with their families.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed “profound shock” after the videos surfaced and told the hostages’ families that efforts to secure their release “will continue constantly and relentlessly.” On Sunday, he also appealed directly to the head of the Red Cross in the region, requesting urgent involvement in delivering food and medical aid to the hostages.

According to Israeli authorities, 49 hostages remain in Gaza out of the 251 originally taken during the 7 October attack. Of those, 27 are believed to be dead.

Meanwhile, reports from Gaza on Sunday said Israeli troops opened fire at two separate aid distribution points, where Palestinians had gathered in search of food. Gaza health officials say at least 27 people were killed in the incidents. The Israeli military has not commented on the reports.

In a statement, the Al-Qassam Brigades said it would “respond positively” to any Red Cross request to deliver food and medicine to prisoners if humanitarian corridors into Gaza were opened on a regular and permanent basis, and if air strikes were paused during aid delivery windows.

Earlier this year, amid outrage over chaotic scenes during a previous hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, the Red Cross defended its limited role, stressing that it relies on the cooperation and goodwill of all warring parties to operate in conflict zones. The organization’s inability to access hostages or influence the terms of their release has drawn criticism from multiple sides.

Palestinians have also expressed frustration, noting that the ICRC has not been granted access to Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails since 7 October.

Over the weekend, crowds of protesters and families of Israeli hostages gathered once again in Tel Aviv, demanding renewed efforts from the government to secure their loved ones’ release. At Saturday’s rally, the families of Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David declared: “Everyone must get out of hell, now.”

In one of the recently released videos, Braslavski is seen weeping as he describes running out of food and water, saying he had eaten only “three crumbs of falafel” that day. He says he can no longer stand or walk, and that he feels “at death’s door.”

In a statement, his family said, “They managed to break Rom,” and pleaded with Israeli and U.S. leaders to act. “He has simply been forgotten there,” they added.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was “appalled” by the images of the emaciated hostages, adding that the release of all captives must be a “mandatory prerequisite” for any ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

French President Emmanuel Macron, calling Hamas the embodiment of “abject cruelty,” said France continues to work “tirelessly” to secure the hostages’ release, restore a ceasefire, and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Macron added that any resolution must be part of a broader political process, including a two-state solution, with “Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace.”

France has recently announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state under specific conditions—an initiative reportedly supported by Canada and the UK. Israel has sharply condemned the move.

The hostage videos emerged as UN-backed agencies warned that the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out” in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry said Sunday that 175 people, including 93 children, have died from malnutrition since the war began.

While the UN, international aid organizations, and some of Israel’s allies blame the crisis on Israeli restrictions on aid entry and distribution, Israel disputes the claims. Israeli officials accuse Hamas of stealing or obstructing aid and deny that starvation is occurring, labeling such claims as propaganda spread by Hamas and amplified by global media.

Despite this official stance, some images of emaciated children have been displayed by Israeli protesters calling for a deal with Hamas. However, within Israel, awareness of the full scale of the humanitarian crisis remains limited.

As the war drags on, Israel is facing growing international isolation. The widespread destruction in Gaza, the suffering of Palestinian civilians, and the stalemate over the hostages are fueling global outrage. Recent polling indicates a significant shift in public opinion against Israel in several countries, placing increased pressure on world leaders to push for a resolution.

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