Gaza/Jerusalem – August 4, 2025 — Hamas announced on Sunday that it is prepared to coordinate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver humanitarian aid to hostages held in Gaza, but only if Israel agrees to specific preconditions. The announcement follows international condemnation over a disturbing video showing an emaciated Israeli captive, intensifying pressure on all parties involved.
In a statement, Hamas said it would permit Red Cross involvement only if Israel permanently opens humanitarian corridors and halts airstrikes during aid distribution. The offer marks a rare gesture of openness but remains heavily contingent on Israeli concessions.
According to Israeli officials, approximately 50 hostages remain in Gaza. Of those, only 20 are believed to be alive. Hamas has so far refused access to humanitarian organizations, leaving families of the captives with little or no information regarding their conditions.
The recent international outcry was triggered by Hamas’s release of its second hostage video in as many days, featuring Evyatar David, a visibly skeletal Israeli hostage. In the footage, David is seen digging a hole, which he states is meant to serve as his own grave. Observers noted the arm of the person filming appears to be of normal build, further highlighting the extreme deterioration in David's physical condition.
The video provoked sharp condemnation from several Western governments, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council, scheduled for Tuesday, to address the worsening plight of the hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that he personally requested Red Cross assistance for the hostages during a call with the head of the ICRC’s local delegation.
The Hostages Families Forum, representing relatives of those held in Gaza, issued a strongly worded statement condemning Hamas’s treatment of the captives. “Hamas has been holding innocent people in impossible conditions for over 660 days,” the forum said. “Until their release, Hamas bears full responsibility for their welfare. Every hostage who dies is on Hamas’s hands.”
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen. On Sunday, six additional deaths due to starvation or malnutrition were reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, bringing the total number of such deaths to 175, including 93 children, since the onset of the conflict nearly two years ago.
In a rare development, Egypt's Al Qahera News reported that two trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were prepared to enter Gaza, signaling a slight easing of Israel’s long-standing restrictions on aid delivery.
Later in the day, COGAT, the Israeli military agency overseeing aid coordination, confirmed that four UN fuel tankers had successfully entered Gaza. The fuel is designated for critical infrastructure including hospitals, bakeries, public kitchens, and other essential services. However, there was no immediate confirmation that the Egyptian diesel shipments had crossed the border.
As the humanitarian crisis worsens and global attention turns to the fate of the remaining hostages, both sides face mounting pressure to reach a breakthrough—diplomatic, humanitarian, or otherwise.
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