In a video released on Saturday, August 2, 2025, the terrorist group Hamas showed Israeli hostage Evyatar David digging his own grave in a Gaza tunnel, aiming to pressure Israel into allowing humanitarian aid and agreeing to a ceasefire. The footage, filmed on July 27, shows David visibly weakened, reporting a lack of food and the dire nature of his situation. The move comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with reports of extreme hunger and malnutrition affecting thousands of Palestinians. The video sparked protests in Tel Aviv, where demonstrators demanded the immediate release of hostages, as ceasefire talks remain stalled. The international community is intensifying calls for humanitarian corridors, while Israel and Hamas trade accusations over the blockade of supplies.
The footage shows Evyatar David, visibly emaciated, stating he hasn’t eaten for days due to food shortages. He is given a can of lentils, described as his only sustenance for days, and is forced to dig a hole, which he believes will be his grave. The video, according to analysts, is a Hamas tactic to highlight Gaza’s deteriorating conditions and pressure Israel for concessions.
- Critical conditions: David appears weak, reporting hunger and physical decline.
- Psychological pressure: Digging the grave aims to shock and mobilize public opinion.
- Crisis context: The UN warns of mass starvation risk in the region.
The video’s release comes at a tense moment, with negotiations between Israel and Hamas stalled after a proposed 60-day ceasefire collapsed last week.
Reactions to the video and protests in Israel
The display of Evyatar David digging his grave sparked outrage in Israel. In Tel Aviv, thousands gathered in a protest on Saturday, holding posters of hostages and demanding immediate government action. Ilay David, the hostage’s brother, highlighted the urgency, stating that captives face inhumane conditions and may have only days left. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, condemned Hamas, calling the video evidence of “sadistic abuse” and urging the international community not to ignore the hostages’ suffering.
The Tel Aviv protest reflects growing pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which faces criticism for failing to advance negotiations to free the roughly 50 hostages still in Gaza, of whom only 20 are believed to be alive, according to Israeli estimates. Israeli society is divided between demands for a deal and reluctance to meet Hamas’s conditions, which include a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal from Gaza.
- Mass protests: Thousands marched in Tel Aviv demanding hostage release.
- Official statement: Sa’ar called the video “deliberate cruelty.”
- Internal division: Israel faces pressure for talks and resistance to concessions.
Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The Gaza Strip is facing an alarming situation, with the United Nations warning of a hunger crisis affecting over 900,000 children, 70,000 of whom show severe malnutrition. Recent reports indicate six people died of starvation on Sunday, August 3, and the situation worsens with Israel’s humanitarian aid blockade since March. Although some deliveries were allowed in May, the amount is deemed insufficient, with only 70 to 150 trucks unloaded daily, compared to the 500 to 600 needed before the conflict.
Israel claims Hamas diverts supplies, justifying restrictions, while the UN and humanitarian organizations refute these accusations, stating there’s no evidence of diversions and that the blockade violates international humanitarian law. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by Israel and the US, has been criticized for inefficiency and violent incidents at distribution points, where over 1,000 Palestinians have died since May while seeking food.
Ceasefire negotiations
Efforts to reach a ceasefire face significant hurdles. Last week, talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt failed after Hamas rejected a temporary truce proposal, demanding a permanent ceasefire and a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Israel insists it won’t end the conflict while Hamas retains control over Gaza and hostages.
Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, has been working with Israel on a plan that includes Gaza’s reconstruction and an end to the war, but Hamas’s statements about maintaining “armed resistance” complicate dialogue. On Sunday, Hamas’s armed wing offered to deliver Red Cross aid to hostages if Israel opens permanent humanitarian corridors and halts air operations during deliveries.
- Negotiation impasse: Hamas demands permanent ceasefire; Israel refuses.
- US proposal: Witkoff suggests reconstruction plan to end conflict.
- Hamas conditions: Group calls for humanitarian corridors and end to airstrikes.
- Israeli stance: Netanyahu prioritizes Hamas’s elimination.
International pressure and humanitarian corridors
The international community is ramping up efforts to alleviate Gaza’s crisis. On Tuesday, 28 countries, including the UK, France, and Canada, issued a joint statement demanding an immediate ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors. The UN labeled the situation “catastrophic,” warning that denying aid could constitute a war crime. Israel announced on Saturday, July 26, the resumption of food airdrops, but experts say this is inadequate, as land convoys are the only effective way to meet the needs of 2.2 million Palestinians.
The UK has offered to join aid airdrop operations, while France threatened sanctions if Israel doesn’t facilitate humanitarian access. The deaths of aid workers, such as 15 paramedics killed in March, have heightened global pressure, with reports of disproportionate force by Israeli troops at distribution points.
- Global statement: 28 countries demand ceasefire and unrestricted aid.
- GHF criticism: Foundation accused of inefficiency and violence in deliveries.
- Proposed solutions: UN advocates land convoys as the only viable option.
Conflict background
The Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and abducted 251 people, has resulted in over 60,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel’s offensive has destroyed much of the territory’s infrastructure, displacing 85% of the population. A two-month ceasefire between January and March 2025 allowed the release of 33 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners but collapsed after Israel resumed attacks, citing Hamas violations.
Famine in Gaza has become a pressure tactic, with Israel accusing Hamas of diverting aid and the group blaming Israel’s blockade for the crisis. The international community, including mediators like Egypt and Qatar, seeks a deal encompassing hostage release, an end to hostilities, and Gaza’s reconstruction, but differences persist.
Psychological and humanitarian impact
The video of Evyatar David reflects not only the physical crisis but also the psychological toll of the conflict. Hamas’s tactic of showcasing hostages in extreme conditions aims to amplify pressure on Israel, while Gaza’s population faces growing despair. Doctors report record malnutrition rates, especially among children and the elderly, with hospitals overwhelmed and under-resourced.
The UN warned that without immediate action, thousands of infants could die in the coming weeks. The crisis is exacerbated by ongoing bombings, looting at distribution points, and destroyed roads, hindering supply deliveries. The international community fears the crisis could escalate into a total humanitarian collapse with unpredictable regional consequences.