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The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting today to discuss the plight of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, following the release of shocking videos by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Ilay David, the brother of hostage Evyatar David, kidnapped on October 7, 2023 during the Hamas attack, delivered an emotional speech before the council, describing his brother as a "living skeleton" in the latest released footage.
"My brother barely had the strength to move or speak. His voice was barely recognizable in that video. My mother and I couldn't even bring ourselves to watch it because we knew it would destroy us. Bring my little brother home. We don't have time. Don't let him spend another minute in the dark," said Ilay David, referring to the grave physical condition of Evyatar, who appeared emaciated and forced to dig what he described as his own grave in a tunnel in Gaza.
David sharply criticized the silence of the international community, calling it “complicity in the face of Hamas’s monstrous cruelty.” He called on world leaders to unite to pressure Hamas and its allies for the immediate release of the hostages. According to official Israeli figures, about 50 hostages remain in Hamas’ hands, with at least 20 estimated to still be alive.
Meanwhile, efforts to improve humanitarian aid to Gaza were also discussed during the meeting. According to a report by Axios, US President Donald Trump is considering expanding Washington's role in managing humanitarian aid to Gaza, amid concerns that Israel is not doing enough to address the hunger crisis.
Two American and one Israeli officials said that Trump, through his special envoy Steve Witkoff, has discussed "taking over" the humanitarian effort.
"The hunger problem in Gaza is getting worse. Donald Trump doesn't want babies to starve and mothers to be unable to feed their children ," a US official said, adding that the president is "obsessed" with the issue, despite his lack of enthusiasm for direct US involvement.
The Security Council meeting was initiated at the request of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and was supported by countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia, which condemned the humanitarian blockade on Gaza and demanded the immediate release of the hostages. Israel's UN representative, Danny Danon, expressed concern about the condition of the hostages, stressing the need for urgent action after videos showed the hostages in dire conditions.
As talks continue, international pressure is mounting to find a solution that secures the release of hostages and improves humanitarian conditions in Gaza, amid a fragile ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Egypt.
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