Gaza: Hamas' armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, released a video on Saturday showing an Israeli captive in Gaza, who appears severely emaciated, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning him. The captive claimed he is "on the way to death" due to Israel's blockade of the enclave.
According to Anadolu Agency, the footage shared on Telegram depicts the captive speaking from inside a tunnel, as Gaza suffers from starvation amid the ongoing conflict. The man addressed Netanyahu directly, expressing feelings of abandonment and despair as his health continues to deteriorate.
"I want to say to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: I feel that I and the other captives here have been completely abandoned," the captive stated. He further described his dire situation, saying, "What I am doing now is digging my grave with my own hands. My body grows weaker with each passing day, and as far as I'm concerned, I'm on the way to death." Indicating the tunnel around him, he added, "This is the grave I may be buried in."
In a plea to the Israeli public, he urged them to take action, saying, "You are the only ones who can stop this, so that I can return and sleep in my bed with my family at home."
On Saturday, Gaza's Health Ministry reported that seven more Palestinians, including a child, had died from starvation, raising the total starvation death toll to 169, with 93 of them being children, since October 7, 2023.
Israel has rejected international calls for a ceasefire and continues its offensive on Gaza. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 60,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, due to relentless bombing and the destruction of the enclave, leading to a severe risk of famine.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in the enclave.