In a statement following a conversation with Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, on Friday, Sa’ar said he conveyed support to Rwanda on behalf of the Government and people of Israel during the ongoing commemoration week.
“I expressed solidarity with Rwanda, on behalf of the Government and people of Israel, during the week marking 32 years since the Genocide against the Tutsi,” Sa’ar said.
Rwanda began the annual commemoration period on April 7 and will observe remembrance week through April 13. The Genocide against the Tutsi claimed more than one million lives in 100 days in 1994.
Beyond the commemoration message, the two foreign ministers also discussed security developments in their respective regions.
Sa’ar said he briefed his Rwandan counterpart on the security situation in the Middle East and reiterated Israel’s position that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.
“I emphasised that the Iranian terror regime must not obtain nuclear weapons,” he said, adding that the removal of enriched nuclear material from Iran and the cessation of uranium enrichment remain key objectives.
He noted that Israel would welcome the achievement of those goals through diplomatic means.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following extensive military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran between February 28 and April 8, 2026. According to officials, the operations targeted Iran’s nuclear programme and long-range missile capabilities.
Iran later launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and several Middle Eastern countries hosting U.S. military installations, including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Sa’ar also said he invited Nduhungirehe to visit Israel, underscoring the continued strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.
“We’ll continue strengthening our friendship with Rwanda,” he said.
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