At a meeting of the UN’s Security Council, an Israeli hostage’s brother read out a direct message for world leaders. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeking cabinet approval to fully occupy Gaza. Follow the latest below.
Tuesday 5 August 2025 21:35, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
On reports Benjamin Netanyahu is planning a full occupation of Gaza, the UN’s assistant secretary-general had this to say:
“International law is clear in the regard, Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state.”
Watch his remarks in the clip below…
It’s now the UK representative’s turn to speak at the UN, where the security council is discussing hostages in Gaza and the situation in the territory.
Dame Barbara Woodward begins by expressing her “gratitude” for Ilay David’s “powerful advocacy” for his brother – see our posts at 20:29 and 20:36.
“The UK stands with your family and the families of all those who have suffered due to Hamas inhuman and cruel actions,” she says.
This council, she adds, has consistently called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all hostages – a call she repeats.
Hamas can have “no place” in the governance of Gaza, she adds.
Shifting focus on to the suffering of Palestinians, she says their conditions have “plumbed new and shocking depths”.
Israel’s aid restrictions, she says, have led to a “famine” now unfolding in Gaza.
She calls on Israel to “alleviate” this “horrendous suffering”.
We’re still hearing from the UN Security Council meeting, but as representatives discuss the hostages in Gaza, a new report has come out in the US.
According to Axios, there are ideas in the White House to expand Washington’s role in the distribution of aid in Gaza.
Citing two officials from the US and one from Israel, the reportsaid Donald Trump has discussed such plans with his special envoy Steve Witkoff.
In a meeting last night, the pair reportedly talked about “taking over” management of humanitarian efforts, as, a US official said, Israel isn’t doing an adequate job.
A US official wouldn’t say what this involvement would entail and the White House has not commented.
The official did say Trump is “not thrilled” about the idea of the US taking charge, but it “kind of has to happen”.
“The starvation problem in Gaza is getting worse,” the official added.
“Donald Trump does not like that. He does not want babies to starve. He wants mothers to be able to nurse their children. He’s becoming fixated on that.”
Ilay David is now directing his speech to the “leaders of the world”.
“To every member of this council and to the global community,” he says.
“Your silence in the face of this monstrous cruelty – it’s complicity. I urge you, do not let them die.
“We don’t have time. Do not let them spend another minute in darkness.”
Leaders “should unite”, he added, to “pressure Hamas and its partners”.
“Bring my little brother home,” he concludes, as the floor is given to Denmark’s representative.
Watch his full remarks in the video below…
The UN Security Council meeting is now under way and we are hearing from a Gaza hostage’s brother.
Ilay David – whose brother Evyatar David was in one of the videos released by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – says “hope is fading” that captives held since October 7 in 2023 are still alive.
“My brother was a living skeleton,” he says, referring to his emaciated appearance in the footage.
“He had barely the strength to move or speak, his voice barely recognisable in that video.
“My little brother was forced to speak to the world and then actively began to dig his own grave inside the filthy, dark tunnel in Gaza.
“My mother and I could not even bring ourselves to watch it. We knew that if we did, we would be unable to function.”
Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, who called for the UN Security Council meeting about to get under way, is giving a brief statement now.
“I came to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” he says, referring to videos released by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad showing emaciated captives.
“On October 7, Hamas committed evil crimes like the Nazis and ISIS did,” he adds.
One of the hostages in the footage was forced to dig his own grave, Sa’ar adds, which he describes as “satanic”.
“Hamas and Islamic Jihad used starvation and torture as part of a deliberate and well-planned, sadistic propaganda campaign,” he goes on to say.
He insists Israel is facilitating “huge amounts of aid into Gaza”, despite widespread criticism from aid groups and foreign governments, with the territory’s population facing starvation.
“No other country acts this way in war under such difficult circumstances.”
‘Upside down’
He adds there are countries “in this building” – referring to the UN – that act to “pressure Israel instead of Hamas”.
“The world has been turned upside down,” he says.
He also criticises plans to recognise a Palestinian state – “they gave Hamas free gifts and an incentive to continue this war”.
We expect to be hearing from Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, shortly.
He’s speaking ahead of a meeting of the security council, which was requested by Israel on Saturday, after Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad released videos showing two hostages – Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski – severely emaciated.
Condemning the “inhumane conditions”, Israel said it “urges the international community to focus on supporting the efforts to return the hostages, to exert pressure on Hamas and to unequivocally condemn its actions”.
Of the roughly 250 people taken hostage during the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the UN said 49 are still in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.
We’ll bring you the latest from the UN here – you can also watch along in our live stream at the top of this page.
Benjamin Netanyahu held a three-hour limited security meeting today, as we reported at 16:54.
That was to finalise plans for “continuing the campaign in Gaza”, according to the prime minister’s office, amid reports Netanyahu is considering a full occupation.
A full security cabinet meeting is said to be planned for 6pm on Thursday (4pm UK time), but the Jerusalem Post reports discussions are leaning towards a full occupation, citing an unnamed official.
That’s despite reluctance from the IDF’s chief, the newspaper added, but the military is prepared to carry out any decision.
Humanitarian workers are running on barely one meal a day, according to the chief of global aid group Mercy Corps.
We caught up with Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, who told us “the food situation remains dire” in Gaza, where her colleagues often only eat lentils or bread once over a whole day.
“And they wake up every morning wondering where their next meal will come out or if something will run out there,” she told our chief presenter Mark Austin.
Virtually the entire population, she added, is dependent on aid at this point.
And as Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly gears up for a full occupation of the territory, McKenna warned the already horrific conditions could actually get worse.
“From a humanitarian point of view, this feels very catastrophic,” she said, on the prospect of full occupation.
“It’s become virtually impossible for us to move around safely to do our jobs. A record number of humanitarians have been killed.
“So, any further action that decreases humanitarian access, that makes it more difficult for us to serve people, that leads to more attacks on the very, very frail health system… that only accelerates the catastrophe that we’re seeing.”
Watch her full remarks in the video below…
According to Israeli media, Benjamin Netanyahu’s top security team will discuss the occupation of Gaza on Thursday.
Earlier today, Netanyahu held a three-hour limited security meeting weighing up the options in the territory – see our 16:54 post.
That was ahead of a full meeting of the security cabinet, which Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 says will take place on Thursday. Reports suggest it will begin at 6pm (4pm UK time).
Underpinning all of this is Netanyahu’s reported decision to press ahead with a full occupation of Gaza.
As our international correspondent Diana Magnay explains in the post below, it’s not clear how that would look or how it would help to achieve Netanyahu’s stated aims for the war.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free