The Al-Qassam Brigades, armed wing of Hamas, has released new footage highlighting the deteriorating health of Israeli captives in Gaza—underscoring how Israel’s own starvation policies against the enclave are now affecting its prisoners.

The video featured Avitar David, an Israeli captive who appeared in good health during a previous prisoner exchange before Israel reneged on its ceasefire commitments. Months later, under the tightening siege imposed by the Netanyahu government, David now appears emaciated, his skeletal figure shocking Israeli society.

The images serve as a stark reminder that the starvation imposed on more than two million Palestinians is shared by all in the blockaded territory, including the captives.

The Qassam video began with earlier footage of David during a previous exchange, before cutting to his current condition: weak, gaunt, and visibly malnourished. His condition was interwoven with scenes of Gaza’s children wasting away due to famine, a result of Israel’s continued blockade and the prevention of humanitarian aid.

The footage emphasized the equality of suffering, ending with the statement: “They eat what we eat and drink what we drink”—underscoring that the captives’ sustenance is no different from that of Gaza’s besieged population.

Al-Qassam has repeatedly stressed that the captives’ release will only occur through a comprehensive prisoner exchange deal, which Israel has consistently rejected in favor of military escalation.

The footage caused an uproar in Israeli society, where images of starving Palestinian children have long been normalized, but seeing the impact on their own captives triggered outrage.

Families of the detained have clashed with the Netanyahu government, demanding a new exchange agreement. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the video “unbearable” and urged ministers to face the consequences of their policies.

The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth described the images as “shocking” and predicted they would pressure decision-makers.

According to figures promoted by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which recently claimed during a visit by US envoy Steve Witkoff to have distributed 100 million meals since the war began, the amount is grossly insufficient for Gaza’s population of over 2 million—enough for only two weeks of rations. This implies that for over two months, the enclave has suffered severe food shortages.

The Qassam video follows another desperate plea, this time from Rom Barslavsky, a captive held by Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades. In a recording, the 22-year-old soldier begged for food, describing his declining health: “I’m not doing well. My legs and arms hurt. Every time I stand, I collapse. There’s nothing to eat. I eat three falafel balls a day, maybe a plate of rice. I’ve never seen such hunger before.”

Barslavsky criticized the siege, saying, “I saw Gaza’s children dying of hunger. What’s their crime? Stop this war. Stop killing children. Stop starving them. These actions are against your conscience. If not for Gaza’s children, then do it for your captives. Send food and water. I beg you.”

The videos collectively underscore a powerful message: Israel’s starvation policy is not only a humanitarian crime against Palestinians but also endangers its own citizens held in Gaza. (ILKHA)