Families of Israeli hostages protest after videos of brick prisoners

Families of Israeli hostages protest after videos of brick prisoners

On Saturday, demonstrators gathered in the "Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv to after the publication of propagandavideos, the Disturbed Israeli hostages show an emergency protests. The videos that were published by the militant groups of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad this week show the Israeli hostages Evyatar David and Rome Braslavski in a significantly fragile state. David's undated film material is combined with pictures of hungry Palestinian children.

Current developments on the hostage situation

The two are part of fifty hostages that are currently being recorded in the Gaza Strip, of which at least 20 are considered to be alive. The militias released the videos, while the conversations about an armistice have stalled and the Palestinians in the enclave are increasingly faced with a hunger crisis.

reactions from the USA and demands for negotiations

Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of the United States for the Middle East, took part in the protest meeting on Saturday, one day after he had visited a controversial aid distribution center in the Gaza strip. Witkoff then held a “very emotional meeting”, which lasted almost three hours, with around 40 representatives of the hostage families. According to a source, Witkoff emphasized that negotiations for an armistice between Israel and Hamas should be "everything or nothing", whereby all 50 hostages should be brought back to Israel.

demands of the hostage families

"The plan is not to expand the war, but to end it. We believe that the negotiations should be switched to everything or nothing. End war and bring all 50 hostages home - that is the only way," Witkoff was quoted. The hostage families, who have repeatedly emphasized that the ongoing fights in Gaza endanger the life of their relatives, demanded an end to war on Saturday and a "comprehensive deal" that would ensure the release of the remaining hostages.

thoughts on the humanitarian situation

The chief of staff of the Israeli defense forces (IDF), Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said on Friday that the fights in Gaza will continue “without rest” if there is no hostage deal. He estimated that in the coming days it would be clear whether it will be possible to achieve a partial deal for the release of the hostages.

propaganda and human suffering

On Friday, the armed wing of Hamas released an undated video in which 24-year-old David-who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023 during a music festival-was shown in a tight cell. The representatives of the hostage families initially advised against the use of pictures from the video, but then stated that the family of David approved the publication of a statue. On Saturday Hamas published a new video that shows David and apparently a longer version of the video released on Friday.

"People talk a lot about what happens in Gaza. I would like to ask all the questions that have spoken about hunger: did you see our Rome? He doesn't get food, no medicine. He was simply forgotten there," said Braslavski family in a statement. "We ask that Witkoff see this video. And we appeal to President Trump: Bring our son home," added the family.

international calls for help and emergency aid

At the beginning of this week, an un-assisted food safety agency warned that the "worst scenario of a famine" in Gaza was playing in Gaza, while Israel is increasingly exposed to increasing food in the area. According to the Ministry of Health Gazas, seven people died of malnutrition in the last 24 hours, including a child, with which the total number of starvation dead has increased to 169 since the conflict began in 2023. In addition, at least 39 people were killed in the same time and more than 800 were injured, while they were waiting for help in different parts of the area.