In a final plea to the global community, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar urged countries to “do some soul-searching” and “don’t continue to cause damage” after condemning Hamas for a “sadistic propaganda campaign.” The minister’s remarks followed the release of videos showing two Israeli captives, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, in a visibly starved and tortured state. Sa’ar asserted that the starvation and torture are deliberate propaganda tactics.
He made a strong comparison between Hamas’s actions and the atrocities committed by the Nazis and ISIS. Sa’ar also expressed frustration with the lack of international oversight, noting that the Red Cross has not been seen by the 50 remaining hostages despite an agreement. The minister further alleged that the narrative of a starvation crisis in Gaza is a “fake propaganda campaign,” which he believes is disproven by the amount of aid entering the region.
Sa’ar framed hostage-taking as a dangerous global phenomenon used by terror groups to ensure their survival and interests. He warned that this tactic could happen “anywhere” and urged the international community to make it unprofitable for terrorists. He announced his trip to New York to attend a special UN Security Council session he initiated, with the goal of making the hostage issue a global priority.
In his final critique, Sa’ar accused international media of a “shameful” and “anti-Israeli agenda” and condemned countries for creating a false “symmetry” between hostages and terrorists. He further claimed that diplomatic moves have rewarded Hamas and sabotaged negotiations, concluding with a powerful message to the global community.
