Psychological Warfare to Pressure for a Ceasefire
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has released a video of two hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. This move appears to be a psychological tactic aimed at pressuring Israel in the ongoing stalled ceasefire negotiations.
According to Israeli media on August 2, local time, one of the individuals featured in the video released by Hamas the previous day has been identified as Eviatar David, 24, who has been held in Gaza for over 660 days.
Hamas alternated footage of David, whose ribs were visibly protruding due to extreme emaciation, with images of malnourished children in Gaza, displaying subtitles that read, "The occupying (Israeli) government has decided to starve them." Hamas is asserting that, as the famine crisis in Gaza worsens due to the Israeli military blockade, Israel is responsible for the deteriorating conditions faced by the hostages.
On July 31, the armed group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which is linked to Hamas, released a video of hostage Rom Braslavski, 21. He holds dual German-Israeli citizenship. In the video, he is seen watching news reports about the famine crisis in Gaza and appeals to the Israeli government for his release.
On July 24, Hamas demanded an expansion of the Israeli withdrawal and changes to the distribution of humanitarian aid. Israel rejected these demands on July 30.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
