UN Security Council to Hold Emergency Session on Gaza Hostages: Israeli Envoy

The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency session on Tuesday to address the worsening situation of hostages held in Gaza, according to a statement made on Sunday by Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon. The move comes amid growing international concern and outrage, as disturbing footage emerges showing hostages in an emaciated state, underscoring the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The latest hostage videos have reignited global focus on the calamitous humanitarian conditions in Gaza. UN-mandated experts have warned that a famine is unfolding, compounded by:

• Severe Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid entry into Gaza.
• Reports by UN agencies and NGOs that much of the aid allowed in is looted or diverted amid the ongoing chaos.
• Many Palestinians are forced to risk their lives to access limited aid through controlled distribution points.

Red Cross and Hamas Statements

In response to the worsening situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to facilitate food delivery to the hostages.

Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, responded by stating:

“We do not intentionally starve the hostages, but they will not receive special food privileges amid the crime of starvation and siege.”

They further stated that the Red Cross would only be granted access to hostages if humanitarian corridors are opened “across all areas of the Gaza Strip”.

Renewed Calls for Truce

Over the past few days, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have released three videos featuring Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, two hostages from the 7 October 2023 attacks. The men appeared visibly weak and malnourished, fuelling renewed public pressure in Israel for:

• A ceasefire
• A negotiated deal for hostage release

As the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the upcoming Security Council meeting is expected to be a pivotal moment in the international response to both the hostage crisis and the wider humanitarian catastrophe.