**Hamas Accused of Starving Israeli Hostage as Part of Propaganda Campaign**
A disturbing video released by Hamas on Friday has sparked outrage from the family of an Israeli hostage, who claims that the militant group deliberately starved him as part of a propaganda campaign. Evyatar David, 24, has been held captive by Hamas since October 2023, when he was captured at a music concert in southern Israel.
In the video, David is seen emaciated and weak, saying “I haven’t eaten for days… I barely got drinking.” His family released a statement on Saturday, accusing Hamas of deliberately starving him to gain sympathy from the international community. The statement read: “We are forced by the Hamas tunnels to watch our beloved son, Evyatar, and brother, being deliberately and cynically buried alive – as a living skeleton.”
The Israeli government has condemned Hamas’ actions, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) saying that they are continuing to take steps to improve the humanitarian response in Gaza Strip. The IDF claims that it does not restrict aid from entering the Strip, but aid agencies have accused Israel of pushing Gaza into famine through its weaponization of food in its war with Hamas.
**Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza**
The situation on the ground in Gaza is dire, with seven more people, including a child, dying from malnutrition on Saturday. The Health Ministry reported that the total number of malnutrition-related deaths since the beginning of the war is 169, including 93 children. This comes after Israel blocked all aid to Gaza at the beginning of March and resumed its military offensive against Hamas two weeks later.
The blockade has had devastating consequences for the people of Gaza, with food, medicine, and fuel shortages still existing despite warnings from experts around the world of an impending famine. The UN, European allies, and other agencies operating in the Strip have all rejected Israel’s claims that there is “no hunger” in Gaza.
**International Community Calls for Action**
The international community has called on Israel to take action to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Aid agencies say that while some aid packages have been airdropped into the Strip, more needs to be done to address the crisis. The family of Evyatar David is urging Israel and the international community to “do everything possible” to save him.
The situation on the ground in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with at least 83 deaths and 1,079 injuries reported by the Health Ministry after an Israeli military offensive in the last 24 hours. The humanitarian crisis deepens, and it remains to be seen what steps will be taken to address the suffering of the people of Gaza.
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