Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said the war with Hamas is a confrontation between the free world and terrorism backed by Iran and its authoritarian allies.

In a press conference in Vilnius, Gideon Saar stressed that the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 triggered a major conflict, seen by Israel as a battle between democracy and terrorism. He mentioned Iran's support for terrorist organizations and connections with authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia and North Korea. Saar discussed Israel's offensive against Iran, which has led to the destruction of key military capabilities, and emphasized the impact of these actions on global security.