Members of the UN Security Council offered their sympathy to Israeli hostages after a video showing an emaciated captive was released by Hamas, but called on Israel to end its self-created humanitarian catastrophe and allow more aid to enter the besieged territory.

One former military chief said that Israel is "well over a year past the point where we could have ended the war."

On the ground in Gaza, health officials reported new deaths Tuesday of Palestinians seeking food at distribution points.