In a powerful and concluding statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called for global “soul-searching” after condemning Hamas for a “sadistic propaganda campaign.” His remarks were prompted by 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 crimes of the Nazis and ISIS. Sa’ar also expressed frustration with the lack of international oversight, noting that the 50 remaining hostages have not been seen by the Red Cross 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 take a strong stance against it. 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 a final message to the international community, Sa’ar accused media outlets 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, ending with a plea for countries to “do some soul-searching” and stop “caus[ing] damage.”