Herzog presses Red Cross chief on starving hostages in Gaza

President Isaac Herzog tells International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric that her group must intervene on behalf of hostages in Gaza, as the two speak by phone, according to a statement from his office.

Mentioning “the horrifying images” of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, who appeared severely emaciated in videos released by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in recent days, Herzog calls on the ICRC “to act in every possible way to help the hostages.”

“The medical condition of the hostages is severe,” Herzog says, adding that David and Braslavski’s bones “protrude from their skin as a result of starvation, indicating that they are in life-threatening condition.”

“These images highlight in the starkest terms the urgent need to provide them with food and immediate medical treatment,” Herzog adds, according to the statement.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone with the head of the Red Cross delegation in the region, similarly demanding that it take immediate action to care for the hostages.

Following the premier’s demand, the ICRC reiterated its call for access to the hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

The Red Cross, which says it must maintain neutrality to operate in war zones, has not been allowed any access to the hostages during 22 months of war, and has faced heavy criticism from Israel and Jewish groups over its failure to reach them.

A spokesperson for the ICRC declines to comment.