In a stark condemnation, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has accused Hamas of using the apparent starvation and torture of Israeli hostages as a “deliberate and well-planned” propaganda tactic. His comments came after Hamas released videos of two captives, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, showing them in a dire state. Sa’ar characterized the entire ordeal as a “sadistic propaganda campaign.”
Sa’ar drew a powerful and disturbing parallel between Hamas’s actions and the crimes of the Nazis and ISIS. He argued that such extreme cruelty is not random but a calculated strategy to exert political pressure and terrorize the international community. He believes this is a new form of psychological warfare, and it is a testament to the terror group’s depravity.
The minister’s critique extended to international diplomacy as well. He claimed that recent moves to recognize a Palestinian state have “assassinated the chances to reach a hostage deal.” Sa’ar asserted that these diplomatic actions are “immoral” and “politically foolish,” as they have only served to harden Hamas’s stance and reward their acts of terror. He urged countries to reconsider this approach, which he believes is counterproductive to peace and justice.
Sa’ar also challenged the prevalent narrative of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling the “starvation narrative” a “fake propaganda campaign” that is contradicted by the consistent flow of aid into the region. He concluded his remarks by announcing his trip to a special UN Security Council session he initiated, where he plans to address the global threat of hostage-taking and advocate for a unified international front against it.