Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has publicly condemned Hamas for a “sadistic propaganda campaign” while also taking a direct aim at France, the UK, and Canada for “rewarding terror.” 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 of these individuals are a “deliberate and well-planned” propaganda tactic.
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.
He framed hostage-taking as a dangerous global phenomenon used by terror groups to ensure their survival and interests. Sa’ar urged the international community to take a strong stance against this practice to prevent its spread. 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 pointed message, Sa’ar addressed French President Emmanuel Macron’s “hostages on both sides” comment and accused countries like France, the UK, and Canada of providing a “pure prize for terror” through diplomatic steps. He believes these moves have only hardened Hamas’s stance during negotiations and derailed a potential hostage deal.