Israeli Ambassador on Gaza War Aims, Hostages, and West Bank Future

Goals for Gaza

• 🎯 The ultimate goal for Gaza is a state free of Hamas, with the war being against Hamas, not the people of Gaza.
• 🔑 Key objectives include the defeat and disarmament of Hamas, demilitarization of Gaza, and the return of all hostages, both living and deceased.
• 🏗️ A vision for Gaza's reconstruction involves an international consortium of interested countries, focusing on civil society rather than terrorist infrastructure.

Military Operations and Timeline

• ⚔️ Israel is in the second phase of its operation in Gaza City, aiming to defeat Hamas.
• ⏳ While some U.S. officials suggest the war could end by year-end, Israeli military officials anticipate it may take months longer, extending into next year.
• 🗺️ Significant progress has been made, with Israel now controlling 75 percent of the Gaza Strip, down from 30 percent at the war's outset.
• tunnels, with an estimated 450 miles of underground networks discovered.

Hostage Situation and Military Pressure

• 🕊️ The release of 207 hostages, 158 alive, has been achieved through a combination of military pressure and cease-fire negotiations.
• ⚠️ Applying military pressure is seen as essential for any successful negotiations or cease-fire to occur.
• 😥 The ongoing operation carries existential dilemmas, with concerns that it could endanger the lives of the remaining hostages.

International Relations and Economic Outlook

• 🌍 Israel anticipates potential international isolation, with Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledging the need to deal with attempts to isolate the country.
• 📈 Despite potential challenges, economic indicators are described as encouraging, with considerable economic growth and investment pouring into Israel.
• 🤝 The goal is to move towards "Abraham Accords 2.0," which is seen as incompatible with Hamas surviving or Israel being reduced to a narrow territory.

West Bank and Eastern Border

• 🇵🇸 France and Saudi Arabia plan to chair a U.N. conference on declaring Palestine an independent state.
• 🇮🇱 In response to unilateral declarations, Israel may act unilaterally, potentially annexing parts of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley.
• 🏞️ There is a broad consensus in Israel for establishing the Jordan River as its eastern border for political and military security reasons.