Berlin, Germany – Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, has defended his country’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip, citing the need to secure the release of remaining hostages from the clutches of Hamas terrorists. In an interview with German TV channel “Welt” on Friday, Prosor stated that only military pressure had convinced Hamas in the past to return hostages to their families.
Prosor claimed that the Hamas had refused to extend the ceasefire, adding that Israel had made a pact with the devil by releasing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages. Many of the freed prisoners, he said, had “blood on their hands.” The ambassador predicted that a significant number of the 1,900 newly released prisoners would go on to harm more Israeli civilians.
Prosor expressed the hope that people would understand that Hamas does not genuinely desire peace, saying that it is impossible to build something new with the terrorist organization.
In recent days, thousands of people in Jerusalem have taken to the streets to protest against the latest Israeli ground offensive and, more broadly, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.