Sa’ar hails Kazakhstan’s entry into Abraham Accords

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Sa’ar also reflected on Jewish history and thanked Kazakhstan for sheltering Jews who fled Nazi persecution, calling tolerance “part of Kazakhstan’s DNA.”

By JNS

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised Kazakhstan’s decision to join the Abraham Accords during a joint press conference with his Kazakh counterpart, Yermek Kocherbáiev, in Astana on Tuesday.

Noting that it is the first Central Asian country to join the circle of peace with the Jewish state, Jerusalem’s top diplomat called it a “bold and moral move” by a “world leader in promoting tolerance and interfaith dialogue,” emphasizing that Kazakhstan is a “natural partner” for the “shared vision of tolerance and cooperation” between Israel and moderate Muslim states.

Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Sa’ar also reflected on Jewish history and thanked Kazakhstan for sheltering Jews who fled Nazi persecution, calling tolerance “part of Kazakhstan’s DNA.”

Sa’ar called Kazakhstan “a true friend and an important partner for Israel” and said the two countries would deepen cooperation in water, agriculture, innovation, and food security.

He led an Israeli business delegation to Astana that included representatives from more than 30 organizations.

He praised Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as a “visionary leader.”

At the close of the meeting, Sa’ar invited Kosherbayev to visit Jerusalem.

During his remarks, Sa’ar said Israel supports the “Trump Plan” for Gaza, insisting the coastal enclave must be demilitarized as part of any future arrangement.

“Hamas must be disarmed, and Gaza must be demilitarized. This is necessary for both Israel’s security and a better future for Gaza,” Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar also linked regional stability to confronting Iran and its proxies.

“Iran’s proxy terror states in the Middle East—Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen—must be dismantled,” he said. “Without doing so, there will be no regional stability.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, left, and Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev speak at a joint press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan. 27, 2026. Photo by Shalev Mann.

The minister began his remarks by paying tribute to Ran Gvili, the final hostage held by Hamas in Gaza whose body was returned to Israel on Monday.

“Ran Gvili of blessed memory—our last hostage held by Hamas—was brought home. Ran will now be laid to rest in Israel,” Sa’ar said. “These are special moments for the people and the State of Israel.”

Sa’ar met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Monday, calling him a “visionary leader, leading his nation to impressive achievements.”

“We had a fascinating meeting in Baku, and I thanked the president for his friendship and support for Jewish life in Azerbaijan,” said Sa’ar, describing their shared goal as being “to deepen our partnership in energy, defense, water, agriculture, tourism, and more.”

Sa’ar also met Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on Monday, holding a joint press conference hailing the growing strategic partnership between Israel and Azerbaijan.

While in Kazakhstan, Sa’ar was scheduled to meet with Jewish community leaders and attend a ceremony marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The visits will include business forums aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas such as water, agriculture, cybersecurity, health, and finance.

Abraham AccordsGideon SaarKazakhstan