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Hamas says Israeli hostages won't get ‘special privileges' as videos of starving captives spark outrage
Hamas has said that Israeli hostages held in Gaza will not receive any 'special privileges' in terms of food or care, claiming they are being given the same rations as its fighters and civilians.
The statement came from the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, on Sunday (August 3), as starvation worsens across the besieged enclave.
The comments follow global shock over recent videos showing two Israeli hostages, Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, appearing severely emaciated. Israel has since appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for urgent intervention.
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Hamas said the deteriorating conditions were due to Israel's siege and war in Gaza, not deliberate neglect. 'We do not intentionally starve the captives,' the group claimed. 'They eat the same food our fighters and civilians eat… and will not receive special privileges amid the crime of starvation and siege.'
Videos trigger Israeli plea for help
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the ICRC to ensure food and medical aid reaches hostages. His office said he spoke with ICRC regional coordinator Julien Lerisson, requesting urgent action.
The world's silence about the deliberate starvation of Israeli hostages—at the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad—is as deafening as its hypocrisy. Expect the images of emaciated Israeli bodies, starved in captivity, to appear nowhere in the pages of most major American… pic.twitter.com/DKIVOJ6uch — Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) August 3, 2025
The Red Cross said it was 'appalled by the harrowing videos' and renewed its call for access to hostages. In response, Hamas said it would allow the ICRC in — but only if humanitarian aid routes are opened across the entire Gaza Strip.
Aid groups and UN agencies have warned that Israeli restrictions are blocking life-saving supplies, while some convoys have been looted amid chaos on the ground.
In recent days, Hamas has released three hostage videos featuring Braslavski and David, who were captured during the October 7 attack. In one disturbing clip, David is seen digging what he claims is his own grave — sparking anger and anxiety across Israel.
Netanyahu said he was 'deeply shocked' by the footage after speaking with the hostages' families. 'Efforts to bring all our hostages home are ongoing,' his office said.
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