FM Sa'ar attends press conference with Latvian FM Baiba Braže
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
FM Sa'ar: "Hamas is still holding 50 of our hostages in cruel captivity. The war can end tomorrow if it releases them and lays down its weapons. We are serious in our desire to achieve a hostage deal and ceasefire."
Type: Press Releases
Topic: Foreign Policy
Publish Date: 01.07.2025
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar's remarks at press conference in Riga, Latvia, with Foreign Minister Baiba Braže:
"I want to thank my friend Foreign Minister Baiba Braže for the warm hospitality in Riga.
I did invite her to Israel and she promised she would come.
We are grateful for Latvia's support for Israel since the October 7th massacre.
We appreciate your President's solidarity visit to Israel.
And I appreciate, Foreign Minister, our ongoing and constructive dialogue and friendship.
****
'Operation Rising Lion' demonstrated the extent of the Iranian regime's threat to Israel, Europe and world order.
Iran's nuclear program was the greatest threat to the international community as a whole.
Iran deliberately targeted civilian population centers with its ballistic missiles.
Your own Deputy Ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv was unfortunately hit.
The same missile threat can reach Europe, including Latvia and the Baltic states.
So Israel's actions against the head of the snake in Iran contributed directly to the safety of Europe.
Our strikes, along with the U.S., set their nuclear threat back by many years.
We severely damaged the ballistic missiles program.
And we harmed the Iranian drone supply. The very same technology used by Russia against Ukraine.
***
This is not only Israel's war. It is Israel's war. It's a global war between the free world and Iran's radical axis of evil.
Iran's Islamist axis includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, the Shi'a Militias in Iraq and the Palestinian gangs of terror in Judea and Samaria.
It is backed by the authoritarian axis: China, Russia, North Korea.
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It is the only true ally of Europe in the region, with common values and challenges.
****
Hamas is still holding 50 of our hostages in cruel captivity.
The war can end tomorrow if it releases them and lays down its weapons.
We are serious in our desire to achieve a hostage deal and ceasefire.
We said Yes to Special Envoy Witkoff's proposals. But Hamas hadn't.
Hamas is responsible not only for initiating this war but also for its continuation.
Hamas is responsible for the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis.
Israel withdrew from Gaza over 20 years ago.
It could have been a beachfront heaven.
Instead, Hamas turned it into the biggest terror kingdom in the world.
It oppresses its citizens and uses them as resources for terrorism.
It joined the Iranian effort to eliminate Israel.
The international community must back now the American initiative for a ceasefire. It must destroy and illusions Hamas might have.
****
Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian aid, as we did since the beginning of the war. We do so despite difficult circumstances.
But Hamas stole the aid and used it as a financial engine for its war machine.
The American GHF initiative is meant to help address this problem.
It directly allocates large amounts of aid to the people themselves.
At the same time, we are allowing the old method to bridge the gap in order to have quantities.
The needs of the civilian population should be addressed without empowering Hamas.
****
Dear Minister,
I want to congratulate you again on Latvia's upcoming membership in the UN Security Council.
Israel supported Latvia's candidacy from the start.
And I know you will continue standing for freedom and our common values in this important forum.
Israel has much experience and knowledge on security and emergency situations.
We want to share it with a close friend like Latvia.
We want to further strengthen and deepen our close bilateral relations.
I do want to thank you Minister for you hospitality and for this visit.
Thank you!"
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
