In Vilnius, President Isaac Herzog delivered a passionate plea to the world, denouncing Hamas’s lies, exposing hostage suffering, and declaring that their release is the only path to resolving the Gaza crisis.
Vilnius, Lithuania — Against the backdrop of the ornate Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog were formally welcomed by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda for high-level talks on Monday. What followed was more than diplomatic protocol — it was a heartfelt and urgent call to the conscience of the world.
In joint statements to the press, Herzog confronted both the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the plight of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
“For nearly two years, Israel has been fighting to bring our hostages home and restore security for all our citizens. We deeply mourn every innocent life lost,” Herzog began. He addressed international concerns head-on, stressing: “Just this week alone, 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid entered Gaza. Hundreds of trucks are waiting for distribution — yet the United Nations has failed to deliver it efficiently.”
Herzog welcomed ongoing humanitarian airdrops by several nations, urging others to join in. But he refused to let Hamas’s propaganda go unchallenged:
“The Hamas campaign of false accusations — while it bears direct responsibility for Gaza’s suffering — is a blatant lie and distortion of reality.”
Holding up photographs of Israeli hostages, Herzog gave a haunting example: Evyatar David, a young Israeli with Lithuanian roots, recently shown in Hamas captivity — skeletal and frail compared to the robust, well-fed hand of his captor.
“He is in immediate, life-threatening danger,” Herzog warned. “Another hostage, Rom Braslavski, is in equally dire condition. They are among dozens still held underground in Gaza.”
The President’s voice sharpened as he made his moral appeal:
“From here, I cry out to the world: we must not remain silent. These hostages are the victims of horrific crimes against humanity. While Israel delivers humanitarian aid, innocent Israelis are tortured and stripped of all rights. This must shake the conscience of the entire world. There is only one path forward — bring them all home.”
Herzog made it clear that the hostage crisis is not a side issue — it is the heart of the conflict, the key to unlocking both peace in Gaza and stability in the wider Middle East.
