**Israeli Hostage Evyatar David’s Family Accuses Hamas of Starving Him**
The family of Israeli hostage Evyatar David, who has been held by Hamas in Gaza for over a year, is accusing the group of deliberately starving him as part of a “propaganda campaign”. This comes after Hamas released a video showing an emaciated David, 24, in a narrow concrete tunnel.
In the video, David can be heard saying that he hasn’t eaten for days and barely has access to drinking water. He is also seen digging what he says will be his own grave. The family statement released on Saturday described their son as a “living skeleton, buried alive”.
**Israel’s Denials**
The Israeli government has denied allegations of pushing Gaza towards famine by weaponising food in its war against Hamas. Israel claims that there is no starvation and that it is not imposing restrictions on aid entering Gaza. However, this claim has been rejected by several close allies, including Europe, the UN, and other agencies active in the Strip.
**Humanitarian Crisis Deepens**
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting seven more deaths from malnutrition on Saturday. This brings the total number of malnutrition-related deaths since the start of the war to 169, including 93 children. At least 83 people have been killed and 1,079 injured as a result of Israel’s military offensive in the past 24 hours.
**Aid Deliveries Continue**
Despite the ongoing conflict, aid deliveries continue to enter Gaza. On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it had airdropped 90 aid packages containing food for residents in southern and northern Gaza as part of co-operation between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, France, and Germany.
**Independent Verification Impossible**
However, independent verification of claims is impossible due to restrictions imposed by Israel on international journalists. The BBC and other media outlets are blocked from entering Gaza independently, making it difficult to verify reports coming out of the Strip.
**Background to Conflict**
The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas launched an attack on Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people. Israel responded with a military campaign, which has resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 people, according to Hamas-run health authorities. Over 250 Israeli hostages were seized by Hamas during the initial attack, and 49 are still being held in Gaza.
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