Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has publicly condemned Hamas for a “sadistic propaganda campaign” while also taking a direct aim at French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments. The minister’s press conference was prompted by the release of videos showing two Israeli captives, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, in a dire state. Sa’ar stated that the starvation and torture of these individuals are a “deliberate and well-planned” propaganda tactic.
Sa’ar drew a strong parallel between Hamas’s actions and the crimes of the Nazis and ISIS. He also criticized the lack of international oversight, noting that the Red Cross has not been able to visit the 50 remaining hostages despite a clear agreement. The minister further alleged that the starvation narrative is a “fake propaganda campaign,” which he believes is disproven by the amount of aid entering Gaza.
He framed hostage-taking as a global threat, arguing that terror groups use it 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 Macron’s “hostages on both sides” comment, stating, “There are hostages on one side. And terrorists on the other.” He further accused countries like France, the UK, and Canada of providing a “pure prize for terror” through diplomatic steps that he believes have only hardened Hamas’s stance and derailed negotiations.
