UN briefing speaker urges immediate release of Gaza hostages and warns of worsening humanitarian toll

An unnamed UN briefing speaker told the United Nations Security Council that the remaining hostages in Gaza must be released "immediately and unconditionally," and warned that resumed hostilities and restricted access are exposing those captives and civilians to life‑threatening conditions.

The speaker said the January 19 ceasefire and hostage‑release arrangement reunited 25 living Israeli hostages with their families and returned the remains of eight deceased captives, but noted that as of the briefing "at least 59 hostages alive and deceased" — including named family members cited in the remarks — remain in captivity. The speaker described testimony from released hostages alleging physical and psychological torture, sexual violence, and deprivation, and called for…