NETANYAHU appeals to Red Cross for help with hostages in Gaza as pressure mounts following release of disturbing videos

Monday, August 4, 2025 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide urgent food and medical assistance to Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as public pressure mounts following the release of disturbing videos showing two emaciated captives.

The plea comes amid growing outrage in Israel after militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad published footage last week of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski in visibly deteriorated health. 

The videos sparked large protests, including a rally in Tel Aviv where tens of thousands demanded a hostage deal. Placards bearing slogans like “Stop the war” and “Leave no one behind” reflected the public’s deepening frustration.

On Sunday, August 4, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that he had spoken with Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC delegation in the region, urging the organization to deliver immediate humanitarian aid to the hostages. The ICRC, which called the videos “appalling,” said the situation “must come to an end.”

Meanwhile, international leaders condemned the videos. French President Emmanuel Macron labeled the footage “unbearable,” and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the images underscore that “Hamas should have no role in Gaza’s future.”

Hamas responded by saying it was willing to cooperate with the Red Cross—but only if humanitarian corridors are opened. The group claimed that the hostages’ frail condition reflects Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis. A spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, Abu Obeida, said captives receive the same food as fighters and civilians, adding, “They will not receive special privileges amid the crime of starvation and siege.”

Izzat al-Rishq, a Hamas political bureau member, described the hostage footage as “proof” of famine conditions in Gaza. The World Health Organization recently reported a spike in malnutrition-related deaths, particularly among children, citing “alarming” levels of hunger and a collapse in health services.

Humanitarian aid in Gaza remains perilous. On Sunday, at least 13 people were killed and dozens wounded during a shooting incident near an aid distribution site in northern Gaza, according to Gaza's Emergency Medical Services.

So far, Hamas has denied the ICRC access to hostages, only allowing it to assist in facilitating limited releases. In March, the organization described its inability to visit hostages as “hugely disappointing,” noting that it was not for lack of effort.

Allowing access now would mark a significant change in Hamas’ policy.

Ceasefire negotiations remain deadlocked. U.S. and Israeli negotiators were recalled last month, with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for poor coordination and a lack of will to make a deal. Netanyahu echoed this on Sunday, saying, “Hamas doesn’t want a deal. They want to break us with horrifying propaganda videos.”

An Israeli official told CNN that Netanyahu is now focusing on freeing the hostages through military means, despite growing concerns from families that this approach endangers the remaining captives. “We’re in talks with the Americans, and there’s increasing recognition that Hamas is not serious about a deal,” the official said.

The prime minister is reportedly seeking a strategy that combines military pressure with expanded humanitarian access in areas not under Hamas control.

Fifty Israeli hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, with at least 20 thought to be alive. Their families have warned that Red Cross assistance alone is insufficient and have urged Netanyahu to reach a negotiated settlement.

“Netanyahu is preparing the greatest deception of all,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement Sunday. “The repeated claims of freeing hostages through military victory are a lie and a public fraud.”

The group also condemned Hamas, calling it “an evil terrorist organization” that has subjected innocent civilians to inhumane conditions for more than 660 days.

Although Hamas insists it is still open to hostage negotiations, sources told CNN last week that the group has stopped participating in talks until there are clear improvements in Gaza’s humanitarian situation.

According to polling by the Israel Democracy Institute during a ceasefire period in March, more than 70% of Israelis supported negotiating with Hamas to end the fighting and secure the release of the remaining hostages.