Revealed: 1-2 Hostages on Brink of Death Amid Outrage Surrounding Trump's Bombshell
At least one or two Israeli hostages in Gaza are in life-threatening condition, intensifying the urgency for their release as the IDF prepares a major offensive in Gaza City. President Trump’s claim that fewer than 20 hostages may be alive has sparked outrage, while families demand clarity amid plans to evacuate one million Palestinians.
Israeli assessments indicate that at least one or two of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza are in life-threatening medical conditions, potentially worse than previously known, amid preparations for a large-scale IDF operation in Gaza City. A senior Israeli official stated over the weekend, “The release of the hostages is an urgent need.” This urgency was underscored by recent Hamas propaganda videos showing hostages Eviatar David and Rom Braslavski in severely deteriorated physical states, reflecting extreme malnutrition and neglect. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum reported that all 20 presumed living hostages suffer from severe malnutrition, with at least eight having significant injuries and five with chronic illnesses, exacerbating risks of permanent disability or death.
President Donald Trump’s August 22, 2025, remarks that “probably” fewer than 20 hostages remain alive, with “a couple of them not around any longer,” sparked outrage among families. “It’s a terrible thing. The situation has to end. It’s extortion, and it has to end,” Trump said, claiming credit for past releases and suggesting a rapid military strike could secure the hostages. The Forum retorted, “Mr. President, there are 50 hostages. For us, each and every one of them is a whole world. If Minister Ron Dermer, who speaks only with the Americans but does not speak or meet the families of the hostages, knows otherwise, he should first update the families.” Israel’s hostage coordinator, Gal Hirsch, reassured families, stating, “According to the information in Israel’s possession, there is no change from the information you have previously received from us: 20 of the hostages are alive, 2 with grave concerns for their lives, 28 are no longer alive and are classified as fallen hostages.”
Meanwhile, the IDF is mobilizing four brigades around Gaza City, with 60,000 reservists set to report on September 2, 2025, for Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, aimed at seizing the city by mid-September. The operation includes plans to evacuate approximately one million Palestinians southward, prompting Hamas to denounce it, stating, “Netanyahu’s disregard for the mediators’ proposal and his lack of response prove he is the real obstacle to any agreement, showing he does not care about the hostages’ lives or their return.” The group claimed the operation would fail, as previous ones did. Families, distressed by the lack of new information and the looming offensive, fear for the hostages’ safety amidst escalating military pressure and international scrutiny.