Sa’ar at the UN: International plans to recognize Palestinian state ‘assassinated the hostage deal’

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says countries that announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state in recent weeks sabotaged a ceasefire deal with the Hamas terror group.

“There are countries that acted, also in this building, to pressure Israel instead of Hamas during sensitive days in the negotiations by attacking Israel, campaigning against Israel, and the announcement of a recognition of a virtual Palestinian state. They gave Hamas free gifts and incentives to continue this war,” Sa’ar says during a press briefing at the United Nations in New York.

“They directly assassinated the hostage deal and ceasefire. Let me be clear: these countries prolonged the war. Hamas is responsible for beginning this war by invading Israel and committing the October 7 atrocities. Hamas is also responsible for the continuation of this war by still refusing to release our hostages and lay down its arms. The international pressure must be on Hamas. Anything else only prolongs the war,” he says.

Sa’ar spoke at the UN ahead of a Security Council session focused on the Palestinians.

The UK, France, Canada, and several other countries have recently said they will recognize a Palestinian state in the fall, some of them unconditionally and some depending on Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Sa’ar also highlights the plight of the hostages still held in Gaza.

“This past weekend, the world witnessed the cruel starvation of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, tortured deliberately by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The world saw their terrible condition, bones standing out in their skin, like living skeletons,” Sa’ar says.

“Evyatar was forced to dig his own grave. This is satanic. Hamas and Islamic Jihad used starvation and torture as part of a deliberate and well-planned propaganda campaign, but the truth must be told. Israel is facilitating huge amounts of aid into Gaza. No other country acts this way in war.”