Israeli Minister to UN: Focus on Hostage Plight

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is heading to the UN after a powerful condemnation of Hamas, accusing the group of a “sadistic propaganda campaign” using hostages. The move comes in the wake of videos showing two Israeli captives, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, in severely deteriorated condition. Sa’ar stated that the “starvation and torture of hostages” is a calculated tactic by Hamas and Islamic Jihad to manipulate the international community.
Sa’ar’s remarks included a comparison of Hamas’s actions to the “evil crimes” committed by the Nazis and ISIS. He also criticized the lack of international access to the 50 remaining hostages, noting that the Red Cross has not been able to visit them despite a pre-existing agreement. The minister further alleged that the “starvation campaign” is a “fake propaganda campaign” orchestrated by these organizations.
The Foreign Minister framed hostage-taking as a global threat, a strategic tool used by terror groups to achieve their goals, such as remaining in power. He called on the international community to make such actions “not worthwhile” for terrorists. Sa’ar announced his travel plans to a special UN Security Council session he initiated to urgently address the situation of the hostages.
He also launched a broad critique of the international response, accusing a large portion of the global media of an “unbalanced and twisted anti-Israeli agenda.” Sa’ar condemned countries for creating a false “symmetry” between hostages and “murderers,” and claimed that diplomatic steps like recognizing a Palestinian state have rewarded Hamas and “assassinated the chances” of a hostage deal.