The family of Evyatar David, a 24-year-old Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, has strongly condemned the militant group after it released a harrowing video showing him visibly emaciated in an underground tunnel. David, who was abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack on a music festival in southern Israel, is among 49 hostages believed to still be held in Gaza, with 27 presumed dead.
In the video released Friday, David states, “I haven’t eaten for days… I barely got drinking water,” while digging what he claims to be his own grave. His family responded in a statement on Saturday, accusing Hamas of using starvation as a weapon in a “propaganda campaign” and said he was “buried alive” in Gaza’s tunnels.
“We are forced to witness our beloved son and brother deliberately and cynically starved,” the statement read, calling on the Israeli government and the international community to intensify efforts to secure his release.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with the families of both David and fellow hostage Rom Braslavski. Meanwhile, US envoy Steve Witkoff also met with hostage families, and thousands joined a protest in Tel Aviv demanding action.
Israel has faced criticism from aid agencies and global powers for its blockade and military actions in Gaza. Despite claims by the Israeli government that there is “no starvation” and aid is not being restricted, UN agencies and several European allies disagree. The IDF reported on Saturday that 90 aid packages were airdropped into Gaza in collaboration with regional and international partners.
However, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reported seven more deaths from malnutrition, including a child, bringing the total to 169, with 93 children. The past 24 hours have also seen 83 people killed and over 1,000 injured due to Israeli military operations, the ministry added.
Access to Gaza remains restricted for independent journalists, making verification difficult. The humanitarian crisis persists amid ongoing violence, collapsed ceasefires, and continued calls for hostage releases and increased aid.
