**Global Leaders Condemn Release of Disturbing Hostage Videos as Red Cross Urges Access**

Concern deepens for hostages as global responses highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Harsh global condemnation has followed the release of videos showcasing severely emaciated Israeli hostages, prompting urgent calls for access from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the footage as "sickening," asserting that the hostages must be released "unconditionally." This outcry arose after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad shared a distressing clip of Rom Braslavski on Thursday, and Hamas released another of an equally weakened Evyatar David on Saturday.

Israeli officials have accused Hamas of deliberately starving the hostages, claims which were contested by the group's armed wing, stating that the hostages eat what their fighters and locals have access to during Gaza's ongoing hunger crisis. Both Braslavski, 21, and David, 24, were abducted during the Hamas-led attack at a music festival on October 7, 2023. Currently, 49 hostages remain in Gaza, with 27 others believed to have perished.

Following the distressing videos, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu communicated with the families of the captives, expressing profound shock and reaffirming his commitment to securing their release. He has also reached out to the Red Cross, urging their involvement in delivering food and medical care to the hostages.

The ICRC expressed their shock regarding the videos, calling them "stark evidence" of the dire conditions faced by the hostages. They reiterated their request for access to assess the hostages' situations, provide medical assistance, and reconnect them with their families. Meanwhile, Hamas's armed wing indicated a willingness to facilitate food and medicine delivery if humanitarian corridors into Gaza are established and ongoing airstrikes cease.

The Red Cross has faced significant scrutiny in Israel, with accusations of inadequacy in assisting hostages. Their role in the conflict has been challenged due to limitations on their operations, relying on the goodwill of warring factions. Palestinian criticism has also arisen from the organization's inability to visit Palestinian prisoners since October 7.

Over the weekend in Tel Aviv, protests erupted as families of hostages, along with demonstrators, demanded a governmental push to secure the captives' release. Desperate voices from Braslavski and David emerged, with video messages highlighting their extreme deprivation. Braslavski's family criticized the Israeli and US governments for "forgetting" their son, and David's family accused Hamas of deliberately inflicting starvation.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voiced his horror at the released footage, stating that the unconditional release of hostages is essential for any ceasefire negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the urgent need for political solutions alongside humanitarian efforts, advocating for a two-state resolution.

Compounding the crisis, UN-backed agencies report that famine-like conditions are now prevalent in Gaza, with daily malnutrition-related deaths. Despite assertions from the Hamas-run health ministry citing the deaths of 175 individuals, including 93 children, Israeli authorities reject claims of starvation, attributing the crisis to Hamas' actions.

As international discontent grows, Israel finds itself increasingly isolated on the global stage, pressured to address the mounting evidence of suffering in Gaza amidst relentless conflict.