What's happened
As of August 10, 2025, Hamas continues to hold approximately 50 Israeli hostages in Gaza, with only 20 believed alive. Recent videos show hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski severely emaciated, highlighting deliberate starvation. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has urged the Red Cross to provide aid, but Hamas demands permanent humanitarian corridors and a halt to Israeli airstrikes. Gaza faces worsening famine amid restricted aid.
What's behind the headline?
Deliberate Starvation as a Weapon
The videos of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski reveal a grim tactic: Hamas appears to be using starvation as a psychological and physical weapon against hostages. David’s skeletal frame and Braslavski’s inability to stand or walk underscore the severity of their conditions. This tactic serves dual purposes: it exerts pressure on Israel and the international community while simultaneously fueling propaganda narratives.
Humanitarian Access Blocked by Political Conditions
Hamas’s insistence on permanent humanitarian corridors and cessation of Israeli airstrikes as conditions for Red Cross access complicates relief efforts. Israel’s partial easing of aid restrictions, including fuel deliveries and airdrops, has been insufficient to prevent famine, as UN agencies report widespread hunger and malnutrition in Gaza.
Political Deadlock and Mutual Intransigence
Both Hamas and Israeli leadership, particularly Prime Minister Netanyahu, remain locked in strategies that prolong suffering. Netanyahu’s resolve to defeat Hamas and secure hostages contrasts with Hamas’s refusal to disarm without a sovereign Palestinian state. This stalemate perpetuates the humanitarian crisis and hostage plight.
International Pressure and Diplomatic Efforts
Global actors, including the UN Security Council and Western governments, express outrage and call for hostage release and humanitarian relief. US envoy Steve Witkoff signals ongoing but stalled negotiations, emphasizing a comprehensive plan to end the war and free hostages. However, Hamas’s demands and Israel’s security concerns hinder progress.
Forecast and Impact
Without a breakthrough, hostages like David and Braslavski face imminent death from starvation. The broader Gaza population’s famine conditions will worsen, risking further destabilization. International pressure may increase, but entrenched positions suggest the crisis will persist, demanding urgent diplomatic innovation and humanitarian access expansion.
What the papers say
Patrick Reilly of the NY Post highlights the harrowing video of Evyatar David, emphasizing his skeletal condition and the deliberate starvation by Hamas, quoting his brother Ilay David who calls for immediate action. AP News presents a broader view, noting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s accusations against Hamas for using aid as a financial tool and denying starvation claims, while also reporting international sympathy for Gaza’s civilians suffering famine. Emily Crane (NY Post) focuses on Rom Braslavski’s deteriorating health and his family’s heartbreak, underscoring the human toll. The Independent provides context on Hamas’s strategic use of hostage starvation videos to influence ceasefire negotiations and the wider humanitarian crisis, noting UN warnings of famine in Gaza. The Japan Times and NY Post report on Hamas’s conditional offer to allow Red Cross access, contingent on permanent humanitarian corridors and cessation of airstrikes, with Israeli officials confirming about 50 hostages remain, only 20 alive. SBS and South China Morning Post detail Netanyahu’s request to the Red Cross for aid delivery to hostages and the international community’s reaction to the videos, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s condemnation of Hamas and calls for disarmament. The Times of Israel provides detailed family reactions to the videos, Netanyahu’s statements condemning Hamas’s tactics, and the ongoing stalemate in negotiations. Collectively, these sources illustrate a complex narrative of humanitarian crisis, political deadlock, and international diplomatic efforts, with vivid personal stories underscoring the urgency.
How we got here
The conflict escalated after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of 251 Israelis. Since then, Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza, severely restricting aid. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad hold hostages, while Gaza's 2.2 million residents face a humanitarian crisis with famine conditions worsening amid ongoing hostilities.
Go deeper
- What is the current condition of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas?
- How is the international community responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza?
- What are the main obstacles to releasing the hostages and delivering aid?
Common question
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What is the current condition of the hostages in Gaza?
The ongoing Gaza hostage crisis has raised urgent concerns worldwide. Videos released by Hamas show Israeli hostages in worsening health due to starvation and abuse, prompting families and officials to demand immediate humanitarian aid and negotiations. Many wonder about the true state of these hostages and what is being done to secure their release. Below, we explore key questions about their condition, international efforts, and the impact of the conflict.
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What’s the Latest on Conflicts in the Middle East and Global Humanitarian Crises?
The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and around the world continue to impact millions. From the dire situation of hostages in Gaza to renewed clashes in Syria, understanding the latest developments is crucial. Here, we answer key questions about these crises, the international response, and what it means for civilians caught in the crossfire.
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Why are Hamas hostages starving in Gaza?
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, especially for hostages held by Hamas. Recent videos showing hostages in dire conditions have raised urgent questions about why they are starving and what is being done to help them. Understanding the complex situation involves exploring the reasons behind the food shortages, the international response, and the demands of Hamas for aid access. Below, we answer some of the most pressing questions about this crisis.
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What is the current situation with Hamas hostages and Gaza's famine?
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with reports of hostages suffering and a worsening famine. Many are asking what the latest developments are, why aid is being blocked, and what can be done to help civilians and hostages caught in the conflict. Below, we explore the key questions surrounding this urgent situation.
More on these topics
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Steven Charles Witkoff is an American real estate investor and landlord based in New York City, and founder of the Witkoff Group.
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The International Committee of the Red Cross is a humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland, and a three-time Nobel Prize Laureate.
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The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, known in the West as simply Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is a Damascus-based Palestinian Islamist organization formed in 1981.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.