Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas described the recent videos published by Hamas and Islamic Jihad showing Israeli hostages as “appalling” and barbaric, which she shared on her X account on Sunday.
On Saturday, the Palestinian group releases the second video of the Israeli hostage and declares it will not demilitarize until a Palestinian state is established. The groups released the videos, ceasefire discussions were hindered, and Palestinians face a mounting hunger situation in the enclave.
What did Kaja Kallas say about Hamas videos?
Condemning the actions of Hamas, Kallas in her post said:
“The images of Israeli hostages are appalling and expose the barbarity of Hamas. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. Hamas must disarm and end its rule in Gaza. At the same time, large-scale humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need.”
The images of Israeli hostages are appalling and expose the barbarity of Hamas. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) August 3, 2025
Hamas must disarm and end its rule in Gaza.
At the same time, large-scale humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need.
Why does Hamas refuse to disarm in Gaza?
Hamas has reiterated that it will only disarm if an independent Palestinian state is established, releasing its second video in two days concerning an Israeli hostage. Hamas published a second video of captive Evyatar David. In it, David is skeletally slim and is depicted digging a hole, which, he expresses in the tape, is for his own grave.
The group stated that it cannot give up its right to “armed resistance” unless an “independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital” is established, in response to one of Israel’s main conditions for ending the Gaza conflict.
What is the humanitarian situation in Gaza now?
Israeli restrictions on goods and aid coming into Gaza have resulted in critical shortages of food and goods, resulting in international calls for a ceasefire. UN-backed food security experts warned this week that a “worst-case scenario of famine” is now unfolding in Gaza.
Hamas has highlighted this issue in their hostage videos, warning that the hostages are starving alongside their captors and emphasizing that time is nearly up for a ceasefire.
Worldwide outrage has increased over Israel’s limitations on aid and the deadly unrest at the GHF sites, with daily reports of shootings at all four locations since the group assumed aid distribution at the end of May. The UN reports that 859 Palestinians have been killed near these sites during this period, and over 500 have died along the routes of food convoys.
How many Israeli hostages remain in Gaza?
Out of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, there are still 49 hostages in Gaza. The Israeli army has also reported that 27 of those who are taken captive are assumed to be dead.
