Sa’ar Blasts International Community for Lack of Oversight on Hostages

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has publicly blasted the international community for its lack of oversight regarding the remaining Israeli hostages. He specifically noted that despite an explicit agreement, the Red Cross has not been allowed to visit the 50 captives, and he sees this as a failure of international institutions. Sa’ar’s remarks were made in the wake of a “sadistic propaganda campaign” orchestrated by Hamas.
The minister was reacting to the release of videos showing two Israeli captives, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, in a dire physical and emotional state. Sa’ar asserted that the apparent torture and starvation were a “deliberate and well-planned” tactic. He drew a powerful parallel between the cruelty of Hamas and the atrocities of the Nazis and ISIS, emphasizing the extreme nature of the terror group’s methods.
Sa’ar also took aim at recent diplomatic efforts, claiming they have severely damaged the prospects for a hostage deal. He stated that the push to recognize a Palestinian state has “assassinated the chances to reach a hostage deal” and that it is an “immoral” and “politically foolish” act that rewards terror. He warned that such actions only serve to embolden Hamas and make them less willing to negotiate.
In an effort to elevate the issue to a global platform, Sa’ar announced his upcoming trip to a special UN Security Council session he initiated in New York. He plans to use this forum to highlight hostage-taking as a dangerous global phenomenon and to urge the international community to take a strong, united stance against it. He concluded his remarks by accusing countries of creating a “false symmetry” between the hostages and their captors.