(Brussels, August 3, 2025) – The recent videos of emaciated Israeli hostages Evyatar David, 24, and Rom Braslavski, 21, produced by Palestinian terror groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have clearly demonstrated the sheer barbarity of these organisations and the desperate need for the world community to act now to secure their release, the EJC said in a statement.
“World leaders must no longer stand by while more hostages are deliberately starved to death by these terrorists,” EJC President Dr. Moshe Kantor said.
“One should expect horror, disgust and concrete action to free the hostages, but instead we see European and international leaders choosing to issue statements devoid of reality which directly reward the terrorists and the murderers of October 7,” he added.
On Saturday, Hamas released a video of an emaciated Evyatar David, an Israeli hostage incarcerated in Gaza tunnels since October 7, 2023, saying he had not eaten for days and was now” digging his own grave”.
It followed an earlier video last week from Islamic Jihad of a shockingly thin Rom Braslavsky, forced to beg for his life in the film’s depiction.
“How do world leaders square the prizes they are offering for Hamas barbarity in the form of promises of recognition of a Palestinian state next month with the emaciated pictures of Israeli hostages.” Kantor asked. “Surely, the consciences of these international leaders should be prioritizing the release of hostages and extended pressure on Hamas at this time.”
The EJC calls upon the international community and particularly European leaders to cease victim blaming Israel and to utilise the considerable political influence they have at their disposal to actively end violence in the region, namely, to secure the release of the hostages now.
