Sa’ar at UN: Countries that backed Palestinian state ‘assasinated hostage deal, prolonged war’
“They gave Hamas free gifts. Let me be clear: These countries prolonged the war,” he said.
Those who continue to back a Palestinian state have “directly assassinated the hostage deal and ceasefire,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said in a statement at the UN on Tuesday.
“They gave Hamas free gifts. Let me be clear: These countries prolonged the war,” he said.
Sa’ar discussed the recent videos released by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavsky.
“Bones standing out in their skin. Like living skeletons… this is satanic,” he said.
Brother of Evyatar David addressed UN
Ilay David, older brother of hostage Evyatar David, addressed the members of the UNSC.
Gideon Sa’ar delivers a press conference at the UN, August 5 2025. (CREDIT: OHAD KAB)
“Evyatar is the kindest person I know. He is shy, but full of life. He has the soul of a musician,” Ilay said.
Since his kidnap from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, Evyatar “and the other hostages have endured an unimaginable nightmare,” Ilay said, adding that this is not just a “figure of speech.”
“We know now from medical reports that Evyatar and the other hostages are on the brink of death, and may only have days to live. My little brother now weighs only 40 kilograms,” David added.
“The world has heard about the atrocities of Hamas, but what is happening to Evyatar and Guy (Gilboa-Dalal) is an act of calculated depravity,” David accused.
Each report of the hostages’ status “makes our fears worse,” David explained, stating that “we do not know how much time they have left.”
“My brother was a living skeleton, his voice barely recognisable. my little brother was forced to speak to the world and was forced to dig his own grave inside the filthy dark tunnel in Gaza,” David stated, addressing the Hamas propaganda video released over the weekend.
“My father cannot sleep, and my mother has not stopped crying. what would you do, if God forbid, it was your son, father, brother? We cannot wait any longer,” David added.
“For us the mission is very clear, and urgent: We must ensure that all hostages are being released immediately and unconditionally,” he commented.
“The last video exposed another horrifying truth; the chubby and well fed arm of the terrorist. Hamas confirmed what we have known for month: The terrorists have plenty of food. The only ones starving in the tunnels are the hostages,” David stated.
“They use them and starve them as a weapon of war,” he added.
(Freed hostages) “Tal Shoham and Omer Wenkert testified to this – the terrorists always had food nearby, and would relish in this while the hostages starved,” David noted.
“This is a humanitarian crisis: the one of the hostage, the very soul of humanity is being scarred by Hamas,” he continued.
“I am here to make a direct and urgent call to this esteemed body: We must request the immediate release of every hostage. The time for deliberation has run out. Their lives depend on immediate intervention,” he stated.
“We must call for humanitarian aid to reach the hostages. They have not received a shred of humanitarian aid since they were taken captive, this is a flagrant violation of international law!” David stated.
“We all have a responsibility!” David announced. “To the leaders of the world to every member of this council and every member of this council: your silence is complicity I urge you don’t let them die.”
“All leaders should unite to pressure Hamas and its partners. Act now, before its too late. Save Evyatar David, bring my little brother home,” he concluded.
This is a developing story.