Israel makes an official appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross, requesting medical aid for captured Israeli citizens
In a significant development, Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has called upon the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene in the Gaza Strip to provide medical attention to surviving Israeli hostages held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The request comes after the publication of disturbing videos featuring two hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, who appeared pale and emaciated from starvation. Netanyahu accused Hamas of inflicting "brutal physical and mental abuses" on the hostages. He also emphasized that the actions of Hamas and Islamic Jihad are contrary to international law and the Geneva Convention.
The ICRC has been actively involved in the Gaza Strip situation, particularly in relation to Israeli hostages, since a series of prisoner exchanges ended when Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18. However, as of early August 2025, no publicly reported medical interventions by the ICRC on behalf of these Israeli hostages have occurred.
The ICRC has previously participated in the situation of Israeli hostages in Gaza, acting as witnesses to prisoner exchanges. Yet, it remains unclear whether the ICRC has agreed to the Prime Minister's request or what actions they may take to assist the hostages.
The request for ICRC intervention is a significant development in the ongoing situation of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian situation in Gaza overall remains dire due to Israeli restrictions on aid entering the territory, which exacerbates malnutrition and medical shortages.
International calls, including at the UN Security Council, have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and emphasized adherence to humanitarian law obligations, including adequate healthcare provision. However, Palestinian armed groups holding hostages have so far resisted compliant access or release.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad released the videos to denounce the impact of the Israeli blockade on their ability to ensure the health of the captives. The current situation of the hostages is severe, as evidenced by the videos of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski.
While the ICRC routinely advocates for the humane treatment and medical care of hostages under international law, there are no recent confirmed reports of the ICRC successfully intervening or providing medical assistance to Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas or other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza.
Sources: - Human Rights Watch on hostage conditions and humanitarian law: [3] - UN Security Council briefings and humanitarian situation in Gaza: [2], [4], [5] - BBC reporting on hostages and health crisis in Gaza: [1]
(Note: A special warning for a heat wave has been issued by AEMET until Thursday in all of Spain, except Cantabrian and the Canary Islands. This fact is not directly related to the previous context but is an additional piece of information from the article.)
- The government of Israel has appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide medical aid to hostages being held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, citing brutal physical and mental abuses being inflicted on them.
- In the midst of ongoing political disputes and war-and-conflicts in Gaza, the health-and-wellness of the general-public, particularly malnourished hostages, is being aggravated by Israeli restrictions on aid entry while medical-conditions deteriorate.
- As the situation worsens for Israeli hostages in Gaza, international organizations like the ICRC have been advocating for their humane treatment and medical care under international law, while also addressing broader general-news issues such as compliance with humanitarian law obligations and the release of hostages.
