Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar: ‘International pressure on Israel only hardens Hamas’s stance’ as violence targets Israelis in Vienna and Salzburg. Multiple European foreign ministers privately admitted they had made a mistake by signing a joint statement condemning Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Tuesday that multiple European foreign ministers privately admitted they had made a mistake by signing a joint statement condemning Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza. The letter, led by the United Kingdom and signed by over 20 countries, called for an immediate ceasefire and criticized Israel’s delivery of humanitarian aid following fatal incidents near food distribution points.

“More than one European foreign minister has told me that signing that letter was a mistake,” Sa’ar said. “It allowed Hamas to harden its stance in the ceasefire negotiations.”

He warned that misguided international pressure was strengthening Hamas rather than compelling it to compromise. “Global pressure must be placed on Hamas—on Hamas to free the hostages and to lay down its arms, not on Israel, which is fighting a war it did not start,” he added.

Sa’ar emphasized that while military pressure in Gaza has yielded results, Israel remains open to diplomatic efforts as well. Talks hosted in Doha and mediated by Egypt and Qatar recently collapsed without agreement. Though mediators suggested progress had been made, Hamas’s demands and internal power struggles remain obstacles to any deal.

“The idea that Israel is choosing force over peace is wrong. But peace does not mean surrender,” Sa’ar said. “We will not negotiate ourselves into defeat.”

Antisemitism on the Rise: Austria Becomes Flashpoint

As criticism of Israel increases in European capitals, so too have incidents of antisemitism, particularly in Austria. In Vienna, an Israeli tourist couple was followed and verbally assaulted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside a kosher café near Stephansplatz. The attackers shouted “murderers” and “child killers,” prompting police intervention. No arrests were made, despite eyewitness accounts describing the confrontation as “threatening.”

Even more alarming were events at the Salzburg Festival, Austria’s premiere summer cultural event, where several Israeli musicians received anonymous notes threatening violence. One message reportedly read: “Go home before you meet the same fate as Gaza.” The hotel confirmed the threats were found in the guests’ rooms, and festival organizers said they were working with authorities to increase security. Protesters also stormed the stage.

Sa’ar responded by linking the wave of anti-Israel activism in Europe to rising antisemitism. “We are witnessing a distorted campaign of international pressure against Israel, and it is fueling rising antisemitism,” he said. “This isn’t about criticism of a policy—it’s about the dehumanization of Israel and Jews everywhere.”

Rejecting Accusations of Starvation

In response to repeated accusations that Israel is deliberately starving Gaza’s civilian population, Sa’ar was clear and direct. “The situation is tough, yes, but the accusation of a ‘starvation policy’ is a lie. The opposite is true—Israel is working very hard under extraordinarily difficult conditions to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid.”

Sa’ar noted that Hamas not only steals and stockpiles aid but also profits from it by diverting food and fuel to its fighters and re-selling supplies on the black market. The IDF recently released video footage showing Hamas operatives seizing aid shipments meant for civilians and transporting them to secured compounds controlled by the terror group.

“Hamas not only steals aid, they are profiting from it and using funds as a financial resource during the war,” Sa’ar added.

A Palestinian State Means a Hamas State

Turning to Europe’s renewed efforts to recognize Palestinian statehood, Sa’ar issued a sharp rebuke. “Establishing a Palestinian state today means establishing a Hamas state—a jihadist state,” he said.

The comment came in response to remarks by French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, who said during a UN appearance in New York that Europe “must pressure Israel to accept a two-state solution.”

Sa’ar was blunt in his rejection: “This cannot and will not lead Israel to commit suicide. We know what’s on the other side of that border. We saw it on October 7th.”

From Regret to Realism

Sa’ar’s remarks reflect a growing Israeli frustration with what officials see as a combination of naive diplomacy and dangerous double standards from Western powers. The private regrets now shared by European diplomats confirm what Israel has been warning: that pressuring Israel, rather than Hamas, only makes peace more distant.

“You want peace? Pressure Hamas. Free the hostages. Stop the rockets. Then we can talk,” said Sa’ar. “Until then, Israel will continue to act—with resolve, with strength, and with the deep conviction that we are right.”