Hamas conditions help for hostages to humanitarian corridors

Group says Israelis in captivity will have access to Red Cross groceries if Israel authorizes sustained and comprehensive humanitarian aid to Gaza. Malnned hostage images increase pressure on Israel.

Hamas has conditioned the sending of help to Israeli hostages to the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the passage of food and other supplies throughout the Gaza Strip. A group spokesman stated that the Red Cross will be allowed to deliver food and medicines to hostages since Israel authorizes the sustained and comprehensive humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and that Israel stops all air attacks while the aid is being distributed.

In recent days, the dissemination of images that show hostages in extreme malnutrition has generated commotion in Israel, leading the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to appeal to the support of the International Red Cross Committee (CIAB).

The al-Qassam brigades-Hamas’s military arm, an organization considered as a terrorist by European Union, Germany, the United States and others-said they had not “intentionally” to “intentionally” the hostages of food, but that they would not receive privileges in the face of hunger and siege to Gaza by Israel.

A recording of almost five minutes shows Evyatar David, 24, in a narrow tunnel, being forced to dig what is described as his “own pit.” In the video, he reports the days when he received only beans, lentils or sometimes nothing to eat.

The PCP said in a statement that he was “shocked by disturbing videos” and reiterated his request to gain access to hostages in order to provide food and medical treatment.

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister’s office said Netanyahu had talked to relatives of two hostages that appeared on the recordings. He “told families that efforts to return all our hostages are underway,” according to the statement.

Of 251 hostages initially captured, 49 remain in the captive of Hamas – of which 27 are dead, says Israel.

International pressure

Crowd took the so-called “hostage square” in Tel Aviv to demand ceasefire in Gaza and return of Israelis in captive of Hamas | YAIR PULTO/ ANADOLI/ PICTURE ALLIANCE

Over the weekend, thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv to press the Israeli government to release captive hostages since October 7, 2023. Families express frustration with the Israeli government, claiming not to see clear advancement in negotiations.

The videos released by Hamas explicitly mention the demand for a ceasefire and relief to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, immersed in a scenario of widespread hunger.

An emergency session on the hostage situation is expected for this Tuesday at the United Nations Security Council (UN). European Union Diplomacy Chief Kaja Kallas said that the images “expose the barbarity of Hamas” and that “Hamas must disarm and end their rule in Gaza.”

Already a group of 550 former Israeli security officers-including former heads of espionage services, military, police and diplomats-appealed to US President Donald Trump to press Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.

Israeli hostage families led protest in Tel Aviv during a visit to American diplomat | Jack Guez/AFP

A joint letter states that Hamas no longer represents a strategic threat to Israel. The country “has everything it needs to manage its residual terrorist capabilities,” the text says, while “hostages can’t wait.”

This war “is no longer a fair war and leads the state of Israel to lose its identity,” said Ami Ayalon, former director of Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security service.

Hunger Deaths in Gaza

Children are among the main victims of hunger and malnutrition that plagues Gaza during war | Jehad Alshrafi/AP Photo/Picture Alliance

Israel has largely blocked the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and several organizations report that the territory is experiencing a growing food crisis. The Palestinian population risks their lives in an attempt to obtain supplies distributed by controlled channels.

On Sunday, authorities in Gaza said they registered five deaths of hunger and malnutrition adults. In total, at least 180 people in Gaza have died for the same reasons since the beginning of the war, including 93 minors.

Most of the deaths have happened in recent weeks, with the worsening of the humanitarian crisis in the territory.

Another 14 people died while waiting to collect food at two different points. To AFP, a witness said that soldiers opened fire against the civilian population in one of them.

Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, based on official numbers. Israel’s campaign in Gaza killed at least 60,430 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas Ministry of Health controlled by the UN.

Originally published by DW on 04/08/2025