Israeli government considers expanding Gaza operations

AFP photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by Shaul Golan

Western leaders, including the UK’s David Lammy and French President Emmanuel Macron, have strongly condemned videos released by Hamas and Islamic Jihad depicting emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Euronews reports that Lammy called the footage “sickening propaganda,” while Macron described it as “abject cruelty” and called for the hostages’ unconditional release. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus, labeling the videos “appalling” and demanding that all remaining captives be freed before any ceasefire is considered.

The Red Cross has demanded immediate access to all hostages. Hamas said it would allow aid deliveries by the International Committee of the Red Cross, but only if Israel opens permanent humanitarian corridors and halts airstrikes during the aid drop. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have accused Hamas of deliberately starving the prisoners in captivity.

The videos feature Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David—both kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel’s Nova music festival and shown visibly weak and distressed in the recordings.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the footage as “profoundly shocking” and blamed Hamas for the conditions. He urged the Red Cross to intervene promptly to provide food and medical care to the remaining hostages. Netanyahu also indicated that Hamas has no interest in a ceasefire and hinted that the government may expand military operations in Gaza if the captives are not released.

Public outrage intensified over the weekend, with tens of thousands protesting in Tel Aviv, demanding urgent government action and the immediate release of the captives