'I Am Dying': Disturbing Video of Israeli Hostage Ignites Global Condemnation

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The family of Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski has authorized the publication of a harrowing propaganda video released by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, showing him emaciated and tearfully stating he is "at death's door," a move his mother said was necessary for the world to see his dire condition after 22 months in captivity, according to a report from the Times of Israel. The distressing footage has ignited a firestorm of international condemnation and diplomatic action, prompting Israel to call for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council.

In the video clip, a weeping Braslavski states he is “suffering with pain that doesn’t look good,” and that he is unable to stand or walk. He describes a severe lack of sustenance, saying, “I don’t have any more food or water. Before they would give me a little bit, today there is nothing.” He detailed eating “three crumbs of falafel” that day and “barely a plate of rice” the day before. In a desperate plea, he continued, “I can’t sleep, I can’t live, you have to stop what you’re doing here. I am at death’s door, and I’m sure that all the other [hostages] are in the same mental state.”

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) - a designated terrorist group by the U.S., EU, and the UK - which released the full six-minute video last Thursday, claimed it was recorded days before it lost contact with the cell holding Braslavski, alleging his fate was unknown. The Times of Israel report noted that Israel has previously accused PIJ and Hamas of engaging in psychological warfare through such videos and that past statements from PIJ have not always been reliable.

This is the second propaganda video featuring Braslavski, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, 2023. A previous video released in April, also believed to be scripted by his captors, showed him displaying signs of illness and describing his situation as “hell.”

In a statement shared via the Hostages Families Forum, Braslavski’s mother, Tami, told the Times of Israel that the video confirmed her worst fears. “The nightmare I was only afraid to imagine is real,” she said. “The fear we live with has become more tangible than ever, and it’s important that the whole world sees this, despite my personal difficulty in publicly showing my Rom in the dire condition he’s in.” 

The hostage’s father, Ofir Braslavski, provided a stark assessment to Channel 12 news, saying, “He’s dying. You’re watching your son dying before your eyes and there’s nothing you can do.” Ofir said he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling him Braslavski was dying and urging him “to stop everything… and give [Hamas] what they want, to get the hostages out.”

The shocking footage, along with a similar video of hostage Evyatar David, has prompted a significant diplomatic push from Israel. According to the Times of Israel, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, announced that the UN Security Council will convene for a special emergency session this Tuesday to address the "dire situation of the hostages in Gaza."

In a statement on X, Danon said, "The disturbing images speak for themselves. While a global campaign is being waged against the State of Israel, Hamas terrorists are starving and abusing the Israeli hostages." He added, "It is time for the Security Council to unequivocally condemn the barbaric acts of Hamas." Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar is set to travel to New York to participate in the session.

The videos have also deepened political fissures within Israel and drawn sharp reactions from its leaders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expressed his "deep shock at the harsh footage" to the families and condemned what he called "Nazi-like abuse" and the "cruelty of Hamas." Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right member of the government, responded by calling for the "complete conquest and declaration of Israeli sovereignty over the entire Gaza Strip." European leaders also reacted, with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas calling the images "appalling" and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot describing the footage as "despicable, unbearable." Both called for the immediate release of all hostages. In Israel, the videos led to thousands gathering in Tel Aviv to demand government action.

Speaking Sunday evening in a separate video message, Netanyahu said the videos proved that Hamas has no interest in reaching a hostage release deal and have strengthened his resolve to “eliminate” the terror group. “I understand exactly what Hamas wants. It doesn’t want a deal. It wants to break us,” he said, adding that while hostages are “wasting away in a dungeon…the Hamas monsters surrounding them — they have thick, fleshy arms. They have everything they need to eat. They are starving them the way the Nazis starved the Jews.”

Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to take immediate action to provide food and medical care to the hostages. Following the call, the ICRC said it is “appalled by the harrowing videos” and reiterated its call to be granted access.

We are appalled by the recent videos published of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. We have said from day one, and we reiterate, that all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.

All forms of public exposure that humiliate persons deprived of liberty and endanger… pic.twitter.com/Rf2tZ9yjgc

— ICRC (@ICRC) August 4, 2025

Hamas announced on Sunday that Israeli hostages in Gaza will not receive any special treatment in terms of food, stating they are given the same provisions as its fighters and the general population.

“(Hamas) does not intentionally starve the captives, but they eat the same food our fighters and the general public eat. They will not receive any special privileges amid the crime of starvation and siege,” said the group’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades.

The group added that it is willing to cooperate with the Red Cross to deliver food and medicine to the hostages, but only if humanitarian corridors are opened on a regular basis and all Israeli aerial activity is suspended during aid deliveries.

The diplomatic push comes with ceasefire negotiations suspended. Of the approximately fifty hostages believed to be held in Gaza, it is suspected that at least 20 are still alive. Hamas is also holding the body of a soldier who was killed in 2014.