The mother of an Israeli captive, who appeared gaunt and haunted in a chilling video, has expressed her hope that the distressing footage “has shaken people enough”.
Galia David, who has been confined to her home since the harrowing video of her 24 year old son Evyatar circulated globally, described the scene where he is coerced into excavating his own grave within Gaza’s terror tunnels. Last night, Galia recounted: “He looked like a skeleton. It is sadistic torture.”
The courageous mother, also a dance teacher, emphasised: “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.” This statement comes just days after families of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas voiced their concern over Kier Starmer’s plan to recognise Palestine as a state, calling it a “prize for murder.”
Following the release of the video on Saturday, Galia gave her first interview to the press, coinciding with Keir Starmer’s declaration to acknowledge Palestine as a sovereign state. The Prime Minister indicated that Britain would formally recognise Palestine in September unless Israel consents to a ceasefire in Gaza, reports the Mirror.
Typically, mainstream media outlets await consent from families before broadcasting such videos from Hamas. However, Galia requested the widespread dissemination of the video, yearning for “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,” Galia, a mother-of-three, told Daily Mail.
Addressing Mr Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron directly last night, Evyatar’s father Ilan Dalal stated: “Because of you there wasn’t an agreement to bring our children home, and you caused the war in Gaza to continue.”
However, this week, Mr Starmer has reiterated that Hamas must release the hostages, agree to a ceasefire, disarm and refrain from participating in the governance of Gaza. The Government will then evaluate in September “on how far the parties have met these steps”, the Prime Minister declared.
Regarding her son’s dire condition, Galia expressed: “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, Downing Street released a statement in which the Prime Minister acknowledged the “endured terrible suffering” of the Palestinian people due to the “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.”