In a heartbreaking plea, the family of Evyatar David, an Israeli hostages held by Hamas, has denounced the group's alleged starvation of their son as part of a propaganda strategy. Amid continuing violence in Gaza, the family expressed their anguish following the release of a video showing David in critical condition.
Family of Israeli Hostage Evyatar David Accuses Hamas of Starvation Tactics
Family of Israeli Hostage Evyatar David Accuses Hamas of Starvation Tactics
The family of Evyatar David claims Hamas is using his dire condition for propaganda, urging the Israeli government and international community for action.
The family of Israeli hostage Evyatar David has condemned Hamas, accusing the militant group of systematically starving him as part of a larger "propaganda campaign." The accusations arose after a distressing video was released by Hamas showing David, who was kidnapped at a music festival in October 2023, looking extremely emaciated while in captivity. The 24-year-old, who has not been released and is believed to be in a narrow concrete tunnel, appears to claim in the video, “I haven't eaten for days… I barely got drinking water."
In their public statement, David's family lamented, "We are forced to witness our beloved son and brother, Evyatar David, deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas's tunnels in Gaza - a living skeleton, buried alive." They implored both the Israeli government and the global community to take action to secure his release.
Currently, David is among 49 hostages reported to still be held by Hamas; during their initial attack against Israel, the group captured a total of 251 hostages. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with allegations from aid agencies regarding a looming famine due to Israel's military actions, which the country vehemently denies, asserting that there is no starvation occurring and that aid is being allowed into the region. However, humanitarian agencies dispute these claims.
Recent reports from the Gaza Health Ministry indicate a tragic rise in malnutrition-related deaths, with 169 fatalities, including 93 children, attributed to the ongoing crisis. As violence escalated, at least 83 individuals were reported killed and 1,079 injured within just 24 hours due to Israeli military operations. This intensifying conflict has sparked further concerns about the humanitarian situation, particularly the distribution of aid.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assert they are committed to improving the humanitarian response by airdropping aid supplies into Gaza, yet eyewitness accounts appear contradicted by the increased casualties reported from the ground. Independent verification of these claims remains challenging due to restrictions on media access in the region.
As the Israeli military offensive extends, initiated in retaliation against the mass casualty event of October 7, 2023, the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with intense debates surrounding both sides' actions and their implications for civilians trapped in the conflict.
