The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a video on Sunday showing Israeli captive Evyatar David in Gaza, accompanied by a statement accusing the Israeli government of abandoning prisoners and enforcing starvation policies.

In the video, Al-Qassam stated: “They eat what we eat and drink what we drink. The Israeli government chose to starve them.” The footage juxtaposed images of the captive soldier with scenes of malnourished Palestinian children and infants in Gaza, where humanitarian agencies warn that Israeli-imposed restrictions have created a severe food crisis.

The video shows David visibly weakened and sitting in a dimly lit tunnel, appearing to have lost significant weight. Describing his condition, David says: “Netanyahu abandoned us. I haven’t eaten for days. Our food consists of lentils and beans. I am digging my own grave because my body is getting weaker every day. Maybe I will be buried in this tunnel.”

Families of Israeli captives have also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of setting unrealistic conditions for a potential prisoner exchange and withholding accurate information from the public.

“The government is lying to us. There is no possibility of realizing the demands,” the families said, warning that the current approach endangers the lives of the captives.

The release of the video comes amid heightened tensions and ongoing negotiations over a potential exchange deal, with humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsening as the conflict continues. (ILKHA)