Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared himself “shocked” after the latest videos released by Hamas showing tortured Israeli hostages in underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip. These horrific images of two emaciated Israeli hostages have shocked Israel, and the country’s prime minister has spoken with their families.
Specifically, Israeli services reported on Saturday night (2/8) into Sunday: “The prime minister expressed deep sorrow at the videotaped images released by the terrorist organization Hamas and told the families that efforts to return all our hostages continue and will continue relentlessly.”
Read: Hamas: Horrific video shows Israeli hostage digging his own grave in Gaza tunnel
Netanyahu on Israeli hostages: “Hamas’ cruelty knows no bounds”
“Hamas fighters are also deliberately starving residents in the Gaza Strip, preventing them from receiving aid and repeating a false propaganda campaign against Israel,” the Israeli prime minister confirmed, calling on “countries of the world to mobilize to unequivocally condemn the criminal Nazi abuses of the terrorist organization Hamas.”
At the same time, tens of thousands of people gathered Saturday evening in Tel Aviv as a show of solidarity with the families and to demand the release of the hostages, reflecting the sentiment that has once again flooded the country. According to his office, Netanyahu “had a long conversation tonight with the families of hostages Rom Braslavsky and Eviatar David,” who both appeared in the latest videos. “Hamas’ cruelty knows no bounds,” he commented, denouncing a “cynical and abhorrent” staging.
Israel in shock after Hamas hostage horror images
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reacted similarly, with the latter announcing that he “sent an urgent message to colleagues around the world” and “took initiative to conduct a special United Nations Security Council session” on the issue. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas today condemned “the shocking images of Israeli hostages,” demanding their “immediate” release.
This morning, the front pages of Israeli newspapers remain focused on the issue: “Hungry, skeletal and in despair” (Yedioth Ahronoth), “Hell in Gaza” (Ma’ariv), “Cruelty Without Limits” (Israel Hayom), “Netanyahu is not in a hurry” (Haaretz).
Gaza: The horrific videos of Israeli hostages held by Hamas
In the footage from the two Islamist organizations, the two hostages appear very thin and exhausted, in a scenario staged to draw parallels with the current humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is threatened by “widespread famine” according to the UN. The image of a hostage digging the ground himself with a shovel inside a tunnel where he is being held, pretending to dig his own grave, has caused shock.
