Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday that the question of hostages detained in the Gaza Strip should stand at the top of the world agenda. He also plans to talk about this topic at an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. TASR refers to AFP report.
- Israel asks the Red Cross for humanitarian aid to hostages.
- Hamas requires humanitarian corridors to improve the situation.
“The world must end the phenomenon of civilian kidnapping. This topic must be in the center of world attention,” said Saar during a press briefing. Therefore, on Monday, he will fly to New York to personally participate in the Tuesday meeting of the UN Security Council dedicated to the situation of hostages.
The Hamas Palestinian Movement was kidnapped by 251 hostages during the terrorist attack on Israel 7 October 2023. According to the Israeli army, it is still in the Gaza 49 band and them are 27 probably dead.
The UNSC meeting is held in response to videos published last week by Hamas militant groups and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The shots of the skinny hostages caused a wave of outrage in Israel and again resulted in a debate on the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release agreement.
Hamas’s armed wing said hostages were given the same diet as fighters and accused the Israeli authorities of their responsibility for their condition. They have introduced a complete blockade of humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza band since the ceasefire was completed this year. In May, Israel has allowed a partial renewal of supplies, but humanitarian organizations point out that they are still inadequate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (MVCK) to mediate food supplies for detained. Hamas responded that MVČK would allow access to hostages if humanitarian corridors open to help in all areas of the Gaza Strip.
