{"id":117058,"date":"2025-08-04T02:10:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T02:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/117058\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T02:10:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T02:10:16","slug":"hamas-hostage-videos-intensify-eu-calls-for-gaza-ceasefire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/117058\/","title":{"rendered":"Hamas hostage videos intensify EU calls for Gaza ceasefire"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nVideos of emaciated Israeli hostages released by Hamas have ignited outrage in Europe and Israel, intensifying EU calls for a ceasefire and immediate release amid Gaza\u2019s deepening humanitarian crisis.<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

\nEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described<\/a> the images “appalling” on Sunday in a post on X, condemning the “barbarity of Hamas”.\n<\/p>\n

\nShe urged the terrorist group to \u201crelease all hostages immediately and unconditionally,\u201d adding that the Hamas \u201cmust disarm and end its rule in Gaza.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\nPreparedness Commissioner Hadja Lahbib also called<\/a> for the \u201cimmediate release of all Israeli hostages by Hamas & Islamic Jihad\u201d.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe footage, which was partly edited and included images of starving Palestinians, was described<\/a> by Israeli President Isaac Herzog as “pure cruelty”.\n<\/p>\n

\nHerzog called upon world leaders to demand the release of the hostages. French president Emmanuel Macron echoed<\/a> his condemnation of the “inhumanity” of the videos while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Bild<\/a> that Hamas must not be allowed to rule Gaza once the war ends.\n<\/p>\n

\nAccording to Israeli officials, 50 hostages captured by Hamas in October 2023 are still being held in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.\n<\/p>\n

\nLahbib also condemned<\/a> the \u201csheer scale of human suffering in Gaza\u201d, urging Israel to \u201cend its starvation of Gaza\u201d and allow large-scale humanitarian aid.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\nIsrael rejects accusations<\/a> from aid agencies and the UN that it is pushing Gaza towards famine, insisting there is \u201cno starvation\u201d and no restrictions on aid.\n<\/p>\n

\nHowever, several EU member states \u2013 Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and more recently Sweden<\/a> \u2013 have pushed to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to Gaza\u2019s deteriorating situation.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Hague also barred<\/a> two hardline ministers from entering the country, increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel.\n<\/p>\n

\nOther EU countries, including France, Germany, Spain and Belgium<\/a>, conducted humanitarian aid airlifts<\/a> earlier this week.\n<\/p>\n

According to official Israeli data, the 7 October 2023 Hamas assault claimed 1,219 lives, the majority of them civilians.<\/p>\n

Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since then has killed at least 60,249 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The UN consider the ministry’s figures reliable.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Europe’s Gaza offensive<\/a><\/p>\n

The public outcry over Israel’s unrelenting approach to Gaza has profound implications for the future of Europe’s relationship with the Jewish state. <\/p>\n

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