War in Gaza: injured hostage drama

A video of an injured hostage in Gaza shocked the world. What do we do for their release? Discover the underside of this humanitarian crisis …

On October 7, 2023, a rave-party in Israel changed in horror. Among the 251 people kidnapped that day, a man, father of a little girl, finds himself at the heart of an overwhelming video. Recently broadcast, it shows an apparently injured hostage, speaking under constraint in a context of war which seems endless. This human drama, at the heart of the conflict in Gaza, raises burning questions: how far will this escalation go? And what can we do to save those who are still retained?

A conflict on devastating human repercussions

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has intensified since fall 2023, continues to make victims on both sides. Daily bombings, civil losses and hostage -taking fuel a spiral of violence. The recent video of an Israeli hostage, broadcast by the Ezzedine al-Qassam brigades, armed branch of Hamas, threw a raw light on the suffering of captives. This man, whom we will call here “prisoner number 24” to respect the request of his family, appears injured, head and arm blindfolded. His forced testimony questions Israeli bombings as a cause of his injuries.

But beyond this video, a whole system of pressure and strategies is taking shape. Why does Hamas publish these images? What are the challenges for hostages, their families, and the governments involved? This article explores the human, political and international dimensions of this crisis.

A hostage in the heart of the drama

The 36-year-old video man is one of the many hostages kidnapped during the attack on October 7, 2023, during the Rave-Party Nova, a festive event that has become the scene of a massacre. That day, Hamas fighters storm the festival, killing and kidnapping civilians. Among them, this hostage, father of a young girl, had sent a last message to his mother: ” Everything is fine. I come home. »» A few moments later, he was captured.

” Everything is fine. I come home. »»

Last hostage message to his mother, October 7, 2023

His video, turned around May 1, 2025, shows a weakened man, speaking in Hebrew with a Russian accent. He talks about Israeli bombings, suggesting that they caused his injuries. These images, although difficult to authenticate, caused a shock wave. The hostage family immediately asked the media not to broadcast the video, fearing for their safety.

The role of videos in Hamas’ strategy

This is not the first time that Hamas has used hostage videos to send a message. Since March 18, several similar recordings have been published, each aimed at accentuating pressure on the Israeli government. These videos, often filmed under stress, serve several objectives:

• Psychological pressure : By showing injured or distress hostages, Hamas seeks to shake Israeli public opinion.
• Propaganda : Videos systematically accuse Israel of endangering the hostages by its bombings.
• Negotiations : They recall that the release of hostages is a key issue in possible discussions of ceasefire.

This cruel strategy is not new in asymmetrical conflicts. By publishing these images, Hamas seeks to exploit divisions within Israeli society, where thousands of citizens regularly demonstrate to demand the release of hostages.

Demonstrations in Tel Aviv: a divided company

In Tel Aviv, the same evening of the broadcast of the video, thousands of Israelis gathered, brandishing portraits of hostages. These manifestations, which have become almost weekly, reflect deep despair. The families of the captives, supported by a large part of the population, criticize the government of Benyamin Netanyahu for favoring military pressure at the expense of negotiations for a cease-fire.

However, the Israeli government is camping on its positions. According to him, only an intensification of military operations can force Hamas to release hostages. This strategy, although supported by part of the population, is far from unanimous. The demonstrators, themselves, call for a compromise, even temporary, to bring the captives home.

A humanitarian crisis in Gaza

If the situation of Israeli hostages is dramatic, that of civilians in Gaza is just as much. The Israeli bombings, aimed at neutralizing Hamas infrastructure, caused thousands of deaths and massive destruction. According to recent reports, humanitarian aid is “on the verge of collapse”, with targeted supply ships and blocked convoys.

In this context, hostages become a strategic issue for both camps. For Hamas, they are an exchange currency to obtain concessions, such as the end of the bombings or the release of Palestinian prisoners. For Israel, their return is a national priority, but the means to achieve it deeply divide the country.

International issues

The conflict in Gaza is not limited to a confrontation between Israel and Hamas. It is part of a complex geopolitical context, involving actors like Iran, Syria, and the United States. Recently, Iran announced the execution of a “spy” linked to Israel, while the Israeli army has struck targets in Syria, showing the regional expansion of the conflict.

On the humanitarian level, organizations like Amnesty International have denounced human rights violations in Gaza, qualifying the situation of “live genocide”. These accusations, although rejected by Israel, feed international tensions and complicate efforts for a ceasefire.

What to do for hostages?

The question of the release of the hostages remains unanswered. Several avenues are envisaged, but each includes risks:

• Direct negotiations : A temporary cease-fire could allow an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
• Military pressure : Intensify operations to weaken Hamas, at the risk of endangering hostages.
• International mediation : Countries like Qatar or Egypt could play a facilitator role.

For the hostage families, the wait is unbearable. Each new video, each bombing, revives their anxiety. As expressed by a relative of a hostage during a demonstration: “We just want them to come back alive. »»

“We just want them to come back alive. »»

Close to a hostage, demonstration in Tel Aviv, May 2025

An endless conflict?

While the conflict in Gaza enters its second year, the perspectives of peace seem more distant than ever. The hostages, like the Palestinian civilians, are the first victims of this war. The images of this injured hostage cruelly remind us that behind political and military strategies, there are human lives that are at stake.

However, voices rise, in Israel as elsewhere, to call for a de -escalation. The demonstrations in Tel Aviv, the reports of humanitarian organizations, and diplomatic efforts show that another path is possible. But for the time being, war continues, and with it, the ordeal of the hostages.

This drama, embodied by the video of an injured hostage, is more than a simple episode of the conflict. It is a reflection of a human tragedy that affects families, communities, and whole nations. As long as violence predominates, hopes of resolution will remain fragile.