Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar delivered a scathing condemnation of Hamas at an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting on Tuesday, describing newly released videos of two emaciated Israeli hostages as “satanic.”
The meeting was convened at Israel’s request to address the ongoing captivity of 50 hostages still held in Gaza—28 of whom are believed to be dead. Among them are 21-year-old Rom Braslavski and 24-year-old Evyatar David, whose distressing images recently surfaced, showing severe malnourishment and David allegedly being forced to dig his own grave.
“They Cannot Be Forgotten”
Sa’ar urged the international community to pressure Hamas for the hostages’ immediate release, calling their treatment “cruel” and comparing the militant group’s actions to those of the Nazis and ISIS.
“I came here to put the issue of the hostages front and center on the world stage. They cannot be forgotten,” Sa’ar declared. “This past weekend, the world witnessed the cruel starvation of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski—tortured deliberately by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. This is satanic.”
Eli David, brother of hostage Evyatar David, also addressed the council, pleading for urgent action. “We need to reunite with them, to hug them, and to hold them close,” he said. “We don’t have more time. They don’t have more time. Every minute counts.”
UN Calls for Humanitarian Access, Warns of Gaza Catastrophe
A senior UN official reiterated demands for Hamas to release all captives unconditionally, emphasizing that hostage-taking violates international law. The official also called for humanitarian access to the remaining hostages and condemned their mistreatment as a war crime.
The meeting took place amid reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a full occupation of the Gaza Strip to achieve three objectives: defeating Hamas, securing the hostages’ release, and ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
UN officials expressed alarm over the potential escalation, warning that expanded military operations could have “catastrophic consequences” for Palestinian civilians and further endanger hostages. They also condemned Israel’s severe restrictions on humanitarian aid, stating that famine is spreading across Gaza, with children visibly starving and adults risking their lives for basic supplies.
Ceasefire Talks Collapse, Suffering Continues
The Security Council session unfolded as indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain stalled. Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis worsens, with daily casualties and no end in sight to the violence.
As global pressure mounts, the fate of the hostages and the broader conflict hangs in the balance, with families of the captives pleading for the world not to look away.
“They must be freed now,” the UN official stressed—a demand echoed by Israel but met with no signs of compliance from Hamas.
