Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has defended his country’s actions in the Gaza Strip, stating that they are in accordance with international law. He emphasized that the Israeli military has strict rules and guidelines and that they never target civilians, only terrorists.
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, controlled by the Hamas terrorist organization, has reported over 50,000 fatalities since the October 7, 2023, attack by the Hamas. A study published by the Economist suggests that the actual number of deaths may be between 46 and 107 percent higher than reported by the Health Ministry. The study was conducted before the latest ceasefire, which was broken by Israel and the ratio of the numbers may have changed since then.
Saar attributed the deaths to the Hamas, stating that his country did not initiate the war. Israel is willing to end the conflict, he said, but the Hamas must return the hostages, observe a ceasefire and seek peace. Israel cannot risk another invasion by terrorists, he added.
Saar rejected the notion that Israel is increasingly isolated internationally, citing the country’s close relationships with the United States, Germany and other nations, including the Arab states of the Abraham Accords. He mentioned that the combined population of these countries represents a quarter of the world’s population.
When asked if Israel plans to occupy and annex the Gaza Strip, Saar replied with a clear “no”, stating that such an intention is not in line with his country’s goals. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced in early May that Israeli soldiers would remain permanently in the occupied areas of the Gaza Strip.