A former Israeli-Austrian hostage, Tal Shoham, who endured 505 days of captivity at the hands of Hamas, has voiced strong concerns regarding recently released videos depicting Israeli hostages. Speaking to German broadcaster ARD Tagesthemen on Sunday, Shoham described the videos as “deliberate propaganda” employed by Hamas.
He expressed deep worry for the condition of Evyatar David, a fellow hostage who was held captive with him. Shoham stated that David appears to be in “an extremely, extremely poor state of health” suggesting what he characterized as intentional deprivation of nourishment. “When I see the images, I truly believe he has not many days left to live. Certainly not under these circumstances” Shoham said, conveying a sense of despair regarding David’s prospects.
Shoham recounted recognizing the specific tunnel depicted in the videos, a location where he and David were detained for eight months. He asserted that the tunnel’s proximity to Hamas operatives possessing ample provisions – including meat, fish and bread – underscored the deliberate nature of the deprivation suffered by the hostages. He emphasized the daily struggle to maintain strength during his own captivity, drawing it from his internal resources and the bonds he formed within the tunnel.
Concerning the intent behind the video of Evyatar David, Shoham concluded that it served to portray a false narrative, contrasting the hostages’ perceived suffering with the conditions of children in Gaza. He further alleged witnessing numerous shipments of humanitarian aid being diverted by Hamas, intended for the public but instead retained for the organization’s own use.
Finally, Shoham cautioned against European pressure for the recognition of a Palestinian state, stating that such action would benefit Hamas and constituted “the worst thing Europe could do” at this time.