EU. Kaja Kallas calls for release of Israeli hostages

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, today demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages shown in videos published by the Islamist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, deeming the images "terrifying."

"The images of the Israeli hostages are terrifying and demonstrate the barbarity of Hamas. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally," Kallas wrote on social media.

The images of Israeli hostages are appalling and expose the barbarity of Hamas. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Hamas must disarm and end its rule in Gaza.

At the same time, large-scale humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need.

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) August 3, 2025

The publication, on Thursday and Friday, of videos showing two emaciated hostages caused a stir in Israel and reignited the debate over the need to reach an agreement as quickly as possible for their release.

In these propaganda images, the two hostages appeared very weak and thin, in a scene designed to draw parallels with the current humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"Hamas must lay down its arms and end its rule over Gaza," wrote Kaja Kallas. She argued that, "at the same time, large-scale humanitarian aid must be authorized and must reach those in need."

The two hostages on display, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, are 24 years old and were kidnapped while attending a music festival during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that started the war.

In Evyatar David's video, introduced with the phrase "They eat what we eat," images of malnourished children in Gaza appear, alternating with those of David, who is trapped in what appears to be a tunnel, and the Prime Minister of Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu reacted on Saturday, expressing “deep dismay at the recordings released by the terrorist organization Hamas” and told the families that efforts to bring back all our hostages continue and will continue “without respite,” as his office said in a statement.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night in support of the families and to demand the release of the hostages.

According to the same statement, Netanyahu “had a long conversation” with the “families of hostages Rom Breslevski and Evyatar David,” both of whom are featured in the latest videos.

“Hamas’s cruelty knows no bounds,” Netanyahu commented, adding that “while the State of Israel allows humanitarian aid to enter Gazans, Hamas militants are deliberately starving hostages to death and filming them in a cynical and hateful manner.”