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Hunger forces impossible choices in Gaza

Desperately hungry Palestinians are forced to decide between getting food and risking being shot. Meanwhile, Hamas released a new propaganda video featuring an Israeli hostage. In a rare visit for a journalist, CBS News' Debora Patta reports from Gaza, under escort from the Israel Defense Forces.
Aug 3, 2025 (02:03)

TRANSCRIPT FOR: “IN GAZA, HUNGER FORCES IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES AS HAMAS RELEASES PROPAGANDA VIDEO OF HOSTAGE”

DEBORA PATTA:
00:00:11

Hunger has forced an impossible choice in Gaza-- risk gunfire or starvation. "They shoot constantly," said this teenager. "This boy was standing next to us, and he was killed." Hundreds have been killed near the US-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid hubs, controlled by the Israeli Defense Forces, which denies it fires on desperate crowds. But under global pressure, the IDF allowed more UN supplies in this past week and took us to an aid collection point just inside Gaza to prove they are not deliberately starving Palestinians. The IDF has brought us here to demonstrate that, as far as they're concerned, their responsibility for delivering aid stops right here. But look at what happens in this UN footage as it tries to deliver that food. [GUNFIRE] It's kids. It's children. Shots landing right in front of desperately hungry Palestinians. In this World Food Program video, one of their trucks is looted by people so crazed with hunger, they say they'll do anything to get something to eat. Inside Gaza, there are still 20 living hostages who've been held for 667 days, including Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David. Hamas released new propaganda footage of David looking so skeletal, his brother Eli fears he is on the brink of death. Hamas is using Evyatar in one of the most horrific and calculated campaigns of cruelty imaginable.

DEBORA PATTA:
00:01:53

According to a recent poll, three out of four Israelis want the hostages freed in exchange for an end to this war.

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