In a significant development in the ongoing Gaza conflict, Hamas has declared that it is willing to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver humanitarian aid—including food and medicine—to Israeli hostages held in Gaza. However, this offer comes with strict conditions: Israel must halt all airstrikes and open permanent humanitarian corridors to ensure safe and uninterrupted aid delivery.
The announcement, made on August 3, follows international outcry over a disturbing video that surfaced online. The footage shows an emaciated Israeli hostage reportedly digging what he believed to be his own grave, raising serious concerns over the conditions of those still held captive in Gaza. Families of the hostages have since accused Hamas of deliberate starvation tactics and are demanding urgent international intervention.
Currently, approximately 49 to 50 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza. Israeli intelligence estimates that only around 20 to 22 of them are still alive. The Red Cross has been urging for access to the hostages but has so far been unable to reach them due to security constraints and the lack of a ceasefire agreement.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least six individuals died from starvation or malnutrition-related causes within a 24-hour period. The need for aid has reached critical levels, with officials stating that Gaza requires at least 600 aid trucks per day to address the escalating crisis. In contrast, only 109 trucks have recently made it through, with many convoys being looted or directed into areas of active conflict.
In response to growing pressure, the Israeli military has implemented limited daily operational pauses to facilitate aid flow. These pauses occur from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with secured routes open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. for transporting supplies to heavily affected regions such as Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and al-Mawasi. However, concerns remain about aid diversion by Hamas and the overall safety of these corridors.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appealed to the ICRC to assist in providing relief to hostages but has not committed to Hamas’s conditions. While Netanyahu faces increasing domestic pressure from hostage families and human rights advocates, he maintains that a military solution may still be necessary to ensure the hostages’ release.
At the same time, political tensions escalated further when Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a move that drew sharp criticism and was seen as provocative during a time of intense regional instability. The visit occurred just as reports emerged of over 30 Palestinians killed while trying to access humanitarian aid, exacerbating public anger and international condemnation.
As the conflict drags on, both humanitarian agencies and global diplomats continue to push for a breakthrough. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are expected to play a key role in potential ceasefire negotiations and in efforts to secure aid access and improve the situation of the remaining hostages.
With Gaza teetering on the brink of a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe, the coming days may prove crucial. Whether Hamas’s conditional offer will lead to a temporary easing of hostilities and a pathway to broader negotiations remains uncertain. However, the urgency of the situation is clear, with lives hanging in the balance amid the ongoing conflict.