Hamas signals readiness to allow Red Cross aid to Israeli hostagesHamas has expressed willingness to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver food and medicine to Israeli captives held in the enclave, on the condition that aid flows are restored for Palestinians as well.
The move comes after harrowing footage of two visibly malnourished Israeli captives was released last week, drawing international outrage and renewed calls for humanitarian access.
Netanyahu appeals to Red Cross amid starvation crisis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that he had personally urged the ICRC to intervene, claiming that while Hamas perpetuates a narrative of starvation in Gaza, it is actually Israeli hostages suffering from “systematic starvation.”
Netanyahu’s comments came after just 36 aid trucks were allowed into Gaza on Saturday—far below the levels required to meet the needs of the nearly 2 million residents, many of whom are on the brink of famine.
Hamas responds: captives share Palestinian hardships
In a rare public statement, the spokesman for Hamas’s Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, said the Israeli captives “eat what our fighters and all our people eat,” denying any special treatment. However, he stated that Hamas is “ready to act positively” if the ICRC formally requests to deliver aid to the hostages.
But there’s a caveat: humanitarian corridors must first be opened consistently for Palestinians across all areas of Gaza. “You cannot demand food for captives while starving an entire population,” Abu Obeida emphasized.
ICRC condemns conditions, urges access
The ICRC, reacting to the disturbing hostage videos, said it was “appalled” by the life-threatening conditions and reiterated its call for unfettered access to all captives.
“These videos are stark evidence of the inhumane conditions,” the Red Cross said in a statement, adding that its teams have not been allowed to visit Palestinian detainees held in Israel either since October 7, 2023.
In a separate development, the ICRC condemned the killing of a staff member from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in a marked PRCS building in Khan Younis, though it stopped short of assigning blame.
Families of hostages slam Israel’s military strategy
The families of Israeli captives criticized Netanyahu’s stance, warning that continued reliance on military pressure endangers the lives of those held in Gaza. “Our sons are starving and dying in tunnels,” they said in a joint statement. “For 22 months, we’ve been sold the illusion that military means will bring them back.”
Approximately 50 captives remain in Gaza, though fewer than half are believed to be alive, according to local and international reports.
Humanitarian catastrophe deepens in Gaza
As pressure mounts for broader humanitarian access, the United Nations has sounded the alarm over worsening starvation in Gaza. According to the UN Office in Geneva, one million women and girls are now starving.
In a post on X, the UN declared: “One million. That’s how many women and girls are starving in Gaza. This horrific situation is unacceptable and must end.”
Meanwhile, over 22,000 aid trucks reportedly remain stuck outside Gaza’s borders as Israel continues to restrict access, drawing international condemnation and fueling fears of a full-scale famine.
