Since Hamas released a video on Saturday which showed Evyatar David looking skeletal and hollow-eyed in a dimly lit Gaza tunnel, Keir Starmer has stressed the hostages must be released
The mother of an Israeli hostage seen skeletal and hollow-eyed in a grim video has stressed she hopes the footage “has shaken people enough”.
Galia David has barely left her home since the horrifying footage of her son Evyatar, 24, went around the world. It shows him being forced to dig his own grave in the terror tunnels of Gaza. Describing the clip last night, Galia said: “He looked like a skeleton. It is sadistic torture.”
The brave mum, who is a dance instructor, added: “We very much hope this video has shaken people enough. I want everyone in the world to see this image, to know what Hamas terrorists are doing.” It comes after furious Bob Geldof issued a desperate plea on Sky News to save babies in Gaza.
Galia’s first interview with the media since the footage emerged on Saturday follows Keir Starmer’s announcement to recognise Palestine as a state. The Prime Minister said Britain is prepared to recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel agrees a ceasefire in Gaza.
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When such videos emerge from Hamas, the mainstream media wait for families to give the green light before airing them. Galia decided to request mainstream media to publish the video because she wants “the world will truly understand how the hostages are suffering”.
“That is why we ultimately decided to allow the release of the video – so that the world will truly understand how the hostages are suffering, who here is cruel, who is abusing not only our children but also the population in Gaza,” mother-of-three Galia told Daily Mail.
READ MORE: Sick and injured children from Gaza to be evacuated to UK for NHS care
Addressing Mr Starmer and President of France Emmanuel Macron directly last night, Evyatar’s dad Ilan Dalal said: “Because of you there wasn’t an agreement to bring our children home, and you caused the war in Gaza to continue.”
But Mr Starmer has, this week, reiterated Hamas must release the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and play no role in the government of Gaza. The Government will then make an assessment in September “on how far the parties have met these steps”, the Prime Minister said.
And, of her son’s desperate condition, Galia said: “I don’t think I have to tell you how urgent it is to get them out… Medical professionals told us that he can live for only another few days.”
Last week, in a statement from Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the Palestinian people have “endured terrible suffering” with “catastrophic failure of aid”. He added: “We see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end.”