The Palestinian militant group „Hamas“ said last night that it was ready, under certain conditions, to allow the Red Cross to deliver food and medicine to the Israeli hostages the group is holding in the Gaza Strip, after a video of an emaciated hostage caused international outrage, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
A spokesman for the „Al Qassam“ Brigades, the organization's military wing, announced on „Telegram“ that they would respond positively to the request of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
However, he added that in return, Israel must allow full and uninterrupted aid deliveries to the Palestinian civilian population in the strip Gaza.
In addition, Israel must cease all aerial reconnaissance operations during the period in which aid reaches the hostages, Hamas said.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier reported that he had spoken with the regional head of the ICRC delegation and asked him to ensure that the Red Cross would immediately deliver food and medicine to the Israeli hostages.
„Hamas“ is holding the remaining 20 living hostages, who were kidnapped during the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, in tunnels in Gaza under inhumane conditions.
In recent days, the organization has released videos showing two of the hostages in a state of acute malnutrition, weakened physical condition and emotional distress.
The footage shocked the Israeli public and many people around the world over the weekend, with leaders such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron expressing their outrage.
Israel suspects that the Hamas group deliberately brought the hostages to the brink of starvation to put pressure on Netanyahu's government.