Tensions between Israel and Hamas have intensified since fighting began in Gaza, with as many as 49 hostages still being held by Hamas, the NYTimes reports. That’s why the Israeli military announced today that 27 hostages have been killed. This shocking disclosure only serves to highlight the precarious state of those who remain in captivity. As that fight continues, attempts to mediate a peace deal to the nearly two-year-long war are increasing. Trump’s former Middle East peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, is reportedly at the center of these negotiations.
Witkoff, who met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, is collaborating with the Israeli government to craft a plan aimed at ending the hostilities. On Friday, he joined staff from a local distribution site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). His experiences on the ground in Ukraine opened his eyes to the dire humanitarian needs across the region.
The UN reports that a major humanitarian disaster is already underway in Gaza. Today, with the conflict at its worst, 93 children a day are dying from starvation-related causes. More than 90 percent of our hospitals are overwhelmed with patients. Israeli fire has now killed more than a dozen people, including eight who were attempting to acquire food.
The conditions faced by hostages are harrowing. In a recently released video, one of the hostages, David, is seen looking exceptionally gaunt. In the videos, he describes himself as digging his own grave. His father, Ilay David, expressed deep concern for his son’s well-being, stating, “They are on the absolute brink of death.” These situations are hugely charged emotionally. In response, there are extremely desperate and pressing calls for action to address the hostage situation and the humanitarian crisis on both sides.
Hamas has reaffirmed its stance, asserting that it cannot relinquish its right to “armed resistance” until an “independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital” is established. This statement is a sobering reminder of how difficult it often is to broker peace in a land steeped in age-old rivalries.
The international community has responded in alarm to the deepening humanitarian catastrophe. And the German government has publicly called on Israel to step up its aid deliveries to Gaza, calling the current deliveries “very insufficient.” France’s foreign minister is calling for a major increase in humanitarian assistance. This increase is an intended, tangible expression of U.S. support for the long-suffering people of Gaza.
Contributing to the urgency of the circumstances, in just the last 24 hours, at least seven Palestinians have died as a result of malnutrition-related causes. By keeping up strict restrictions, for months Israel has all but halted the entry of goods and humanitarian aid into Gaza. In consequence, shortages of food and other critical supplies have increased exponentially. The severity of these limitations has led to international condemnation and intensified attacks from humanitarian groups.
First and foremost, media outlets including The Guardian have placed a spotlight on the catastrophic effects of this crisis. They cite Code Pink’s “the mathematics of starvation,” illustrating how Israeli policy has completely stoked a famine in Gaza. Food security specialists backed by the UN have raised alarms that the region is on a trajectory to a “worst-case scenario of famine” without urgent intervention.
As this complex crisis continues to develop, the safety of hostages and civilians is at risk. The need for humanitarian assistance and the call for renewed diplomatic negotiations is urgent and apparent.