Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has publicly condemned Hamas for what he described as a “deliberate and well-planned sadistic propaganda campaign” using hostages. The minister’s remarks followed the release of distressing videos showing two Israeli captives, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, in a visibly deteriorated state. Sa’ar asserted that the starvation and torture of these individuals are a central part of this propaganda effort.
The minister also highlighted what he described as the international community’s failure to act decisively. He pointed out that despite an agreement, the Red Cross has not been allowed to visit the 50 remaining hostages. Sa’ar further alleged that the starvation narrative in Gaza is a “fake propaganda campaign,” which he believes is disproven by the amount of aid entering the region.
He framed hostage-taking as a dangerous global phenomenon, arguing that terror groups use it to ensure their survival and achieve their goals. Sa’ar warned that this tactic could happen “anywhere” and urged the international community to make it unprofitable for terrorists. He announced his travel to New York to attend a special UN Security Council session he initiated to urgently address the hostage situation.
In a broader 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, ending with a call for countries to “do some soul-searching.”