By: Ariella Haviv

Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a powerful appeal on Monday during a state visit to Lithuania, presenting images of two emaciated Israeli hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Speaking alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda in Vilnius, Herzog declared that the disturbing photographs represented undeniable proof of the “cruel torture inflicted on innocent Israelis” and said that their suffering “must shake the conscience of the entire world,” according to The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).

The images, released last week by the terror organizations, depict 24-year-old Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski in severely deteriorated condition. Palestinian Islamic Jihad distributed video footage of Braslavski, followed by Hamas’s release of a video showing David on Aug. 1. Displaying the photographs during his remarks, Herzog emphasized that David’s case carried a particular resonance in Lithuania. “He is of Lithuanian heritage. Look at the hand of the captor–well-fed–compared to Evyatar’s emaciated frame. He is in immediate, life-threatening danger,” Herzog said, as cited by JNS.

Herzog’s comments came as the hostage crisis remains at the center of Israel’s war against Hamas, now approaching its second year since the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre. That day, Hamas and allied Palestinian groups invaded southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting 251 civilians and soldiers into Gaza. Nearly two years later, Israeli authorities estimate that approximately 20 hostages are still alive.

“These hostages are the victims of horrific crimes against humanity,” Herzog said. “These horrendous images are yet another chilling reminder: While Israel delivers humanitarian aid into Gaza, innocent Israelis are held underground, tortured, and stripped of all rights.” His remarks called attention to the growing urgency in Jerusalem to keep global attention focused on the plight of those still in captivity.

The president’s meeting with Nausėda included a formal welcoming ceremony at the Lithuanian Presidential Palace, attended by Israel’s first lady, Michal Herzog. The two leaders held a private diplomatic discussion before addressing the press. The symbolism of Herzog’s visit to Lithuania–home to a large prewar Jewish community and a place of both deep heritage and tragic Holocaust history–added resonance to his appeal.

Herzog also addressed the broader humanitarian context in Gaza, telling reporters that Israel is making “tremendous efforts” to facilitate the entry of food and medicine. He pointedly criticized the United Nations, arguing that the organization has failed to distribute supplies effectively once inside the enclave. According to JNS, Herzog stressed that while Israel has opened routes for aid and encouraged more international partners to join in air drops, Hamas continues to manipulate and exploit humanitarian relief for its own purposes.

“We must also speak the truth,” Herzog said. “The Hamas campaign of false accusations, while it itself bears direct responsibility for the suffering of Gaza’s civilians, is a blatant lie and a distortion of reality.” His remarks, reported by JNS, highlighted the Israeli government’s position that Hamas, not Israel, is directly accountable for the food shortages and widespread hardship in the Strip.

Herzog’s appeal in Vilnius comes amid mounting diplomatic pressure on Israel, with international leaders calling for a ceasefire and increased aid. Yet by displaying the stark images of David and Braslavski, the president sought to reframe the discussion around the hostages.