Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has publicly condemned Hamas for a “sadistic propaganda campaign” while also explaining the strategic motivation behind their actions. The minister’s remarks followed the release of videos showing two Israeli captives, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, in a dire 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 criticized the lack of international oversight, noting that the 50 remaining hostages have not been seen by the Red Cross despite an explicit agreement. The minister 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.
Sa’ar framed hostage-taking as a dangerous global phenomenon used by terror groups to ensure their survival and interests. He stated that in the case of Hamas, they are using hostages “to force upon us their conditions: Remaining in power in Gaza.” To highlight the issue on a global scale, he announced his trip to a special UN Security Council session he initiated in New York.
In a final message, Sa’ar accused countries of creating a false “symmetry” between hostages and “murderers.” He specifically stated that diplomatic moves have only hardened Hamas’s stance during negotiations, calling them “a huge mistake” that has rewarded terror and ultimately derailed a potential hostage deal.