The Embassy of Israel in New Zealand is today responding
to recent coverage of video
footage showing 24-year-old Israeli hostage Evyatar
David.
Evyatar was kidnapped, by Hamas, from
the Nova music festival in southern Israel on
October 7, 2023, and has now been held in
captivity in Gaza for 668 days. He is one
of 50 hostages currently being held in
underground tunnels.
In the recently released video,
Evyatar appears severely malnourished,
struggling to walk and speak. He is seen shirtless, visibly
emaciated, and crossing out days on a wall calendar marked
with the phrase “ein ochel”—Hebrew for “no
food.” In one of the most harrowing moments of the
footage, he is forced to dig his own grave
under the watch of his captors.
Meanwhile, the
terrorists visible in the footage appear well-fed
and in good health. This stark contrast reveals
what cannot be ignored: Evyatar’s starvation is
not incidental—it is deliberate. This is a tactic
of coercion and abuse, and a clear
violation of international humanitarian
law.
The Embassy also notes that
Gaza’s Health Ministry, frequently cited
in international media reports, has remained silent
regarding the status of Israeli hostages. This is of
particular concern given that the ministry is directly
controlled by Hamas—the very organisation
responsible for these violations.
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There is no
shortage of food or aid entering Gaza. According to
COGAT, over the past week alone, 1,200
trucks carrying more than 23,000
tons of humanitarian supplies entered Gaza. Another
1,200 trucks were distributed by the UN and
aid organisations, with hundreds more awaiting pickup.
In total, more than 96 million meals have been
delivered into Gaza in the past 2.5
months.
Recent data also confirms the
delivery of over 50,000 tons of food aid
and 4,000 tons of baby formula in recent
weeks. There are no restrictions on food or
aid entry.
This aid is meant for
civilians. The condition of Evyatar David
shows that those holding the hostages are choosing to
withhold
it.
