The family of an Israeli man held captive by Hamas has condemned the militant group for allegedly using starvation as a psychological weapon. A recently released video shows 24-year-old Evyatar David in a weakened state, confined in what appears to be a narrow underground tunnel.
David was taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attack on a music festival in southern Israel. His relatives described the footage as a deliberate act of cruelty, accusing the group of reducing him to a “living skeleton” while denying him basic sustenance.
In the video, David is heard saying he has gone days without food and has barely received water. At one point, he is seen digging in the dirt, claiming it will become his grave. His family has called on Israeli authorities and the international community to intensify efforts to secure his release.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, where aid organizations warn of worsening famine conditions. The Israeli government denies restricting humanitarian aid, though UN agencies and allies dispute these claims.
Recent reports from Gaza’s health officials state that at least seven more people, including a child, have died from malnutrition, bringing the total starvation-related deaths since the war began to 169.
As tensions escalate, protests demanding the hostages’ release have grown in Israel, while international mediators attempt to negotiate a resolution. The conflict, now in its second year, shows no signs of abating, with both sides accusing the other of prolonging the suffering of civilians.
