Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has asserted that international diplomatic efforts to recognize a Palestinian state have backfired, leading to a hardening of Hamas’s position and thereby damaging the prospects for a hostage deal. He explicitly stated that these moves have “assassinated the chances to reach a hostage deal” by providing a reward for terrorism. Sa’ar’s remarks were delivered after Hamas released distressing videos of two Israeli hostages, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski.
The minister characterized the release of the videos and the apparent torture and starvation of the captives as a “sadistic propaganda campaign.” He accused Hamas of using these tactics in a “deliberate and well-planned” manner, comparing their actions to the crimes of the Nazis and ISIS. Sa’ar’s message was that Hamas is not simply a political entity but a terror organization using extreme cruelty for psychological and political gain.
In a broader critique of the international response, Sa’ar expressed frustration that the Red Cross has been unable to visit the 50 remaining hostages, despite a pre-existing agreement. He also weighed in on the humanitarian debate in Gaza, dismissing the “starvation narrative” as a “fake propaganda campaign.” The minister claimed that the constant influx of aid into the region provides clear evidence against the reports of widespread famine.
Sa’ar concluded his address by announcing his trip to New York, where he will attend a special UN Security Council session that he initiated. He plans to use this forum to advocate for a global, unified stance against hostage-taking, which he described as a dangerous global phenomenon used by terror groups. He urged the international community to abandon the creation of “false symmetry” between hostages and their captors.