Herzog urges world ‘not to fall for Hamas’s lies’

President Isaac Herzog calls on the international community “not to fall for Hamas’s lies,” which he says are distorting media coverage, and urges global pressure on the terror group to secure the release of hostages in Gaza.

“We urge the world not to fall for Hamas’s lies,” Herzog says, speaking in Tallinn alongside Estonian President Alar Karis during the final stop of his visit to the Baltic states.

Holding up images of hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski — who appeared severely emaciated in recent videos released by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad — Herzog contrasts them with a photo showing a Gaza-based photographer capturing images of residents holding empty pots, but not in front of a food distribution site.

He condemns what he described as a Hamas-fueled “PR campaign” against Israel that has gained international support.

Although Israel has “overhauled its entire approach to the humanitarian situation” in Gaza over the past two weeks and significantly increased aid entering the Strip, Herzog criticizes the United Nations, saying the body “can distribute — and is failing to distribute” that aid.

“Instead of that, we see a PR campaign,” the president continues. “You see a photographer staging Gaza people to show that they are lacking food. This is staged. We don’t shy away from the humanitarian need to help the people of Gaza, but we ask the world not to fall for the lies. Condemn Hamas and say to Hamas… Get the hostages out.”