Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has announced his plans to attend a special UN Security Council session he initiated to address the hostage crisis. This announcement came after he publicly condemned Hamas and Islamic Jihad for a “deliberate and well-planned sadistic propaganda campaign” using hostages. His comments were a direct response to the release of videos showing two Israeli captives, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, in a visibly deteriorated state.
Sa’ar drew a stark comparison between Hamas and notorious groups like the Nazis and ISIS, highlighting the severity of their alleged crimes. He also criticized the lack of international oversight, noting that the remaining 50 hostages have not been seen by the Red Cross, despite an explicit agreement. The minister further alleged that the “starvation campaign” was being manipulated for media purposes and that the amount of aid entering Gaza proves this is a “fake propaganda campaign.”
He also addressed the broader implications of hostage-taking, warning that it’s being used as a strategic tool by terror groups to ensure their survival. Sa’ar asserted that this is a “dangerous phenomenon that could happen tomorrow anywhere” and urged the international community to make it “not worthwhile for the terrorists” to kidnap civilians.
Finally, Sa’ar criticized the international media and certain countries for what he saw as a “twisted anti-Israeli agenda.” He called out media outlets for not prominently featuring the hostages’ images and condemned countries for trying to create a “symmetry” between the hostages and “evil murderers.” He also claimed that diplomatic moves, such as recognizing a virtual Palestinian state, have only hardened Hamas’s stance and derailed hostage negotiations.