The UN Security Council will convene a special emergency session on August 5th regarding the plight of hostages in the Gaza Strip at the request of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon announced on August 3rd.
The announcement came after Hamas released videos of hostages Rom Braslavski, a 21-year-old German citizen, and Evyatar David, a 24-year-old Israeli citizen, showing both emaciated and weak from lack of food.
According to Ambassador Danon, the images of the hostages speak for themselves. "While the world conducts a pressure campaign against Israel, Hamas is starving and mistreating Israeli hostages. It is time for the Security Council to strongly condemn Hamas's cruel actions that are taking place every day, every hour," he added.
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Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon at a Security Council meeting on 28/5. Photo: AFP |
Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon at a Security Council meeting on 28/5. Photo: AFP
The latest images of the two hostages have shaken Israeli public opinion, prompting protests in Tel Aviv calling on the government to accept a ceasefire to rescue the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on August 3rd asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to help provide food for the hostages.
In response, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, declared they would only allow the organization access to the hostages when "humanitarian corridors for food and aid are opened throughout the Gaza Strip."
The group asserted they are not "intentionally starving" the hostages, but emphasized the hostages will not receive any privileges "amid the crimes of starvation and siege" taking place in Gaza.
The Gaza Strip conflict erupted in 10/2023 after Hamas forces launched a coordinated attack on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages. Currently, 49 people are still being held in the Gaza Strip, of whom 27 are believed by Israel to be dead.
The Israeli military's retaliatory campaign in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 60,000 people, mostly civilians, according to local health officials.
UN experts recently warned of famine in Gaza. Israel has severely restricted aid deliveries into Gaza, while UN agencies, humanitarian groups, and analysts say much of the goods Israel does allow in are looted or do not reach the population.
Many countries are calling for Israel and Hamas to reach a new ceasefire agreement to facilitate humanitarian aid into the territory.
Huyen Le (AFP, Times of Israel)
