Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis on Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal

Key Goals for Gaza

• 🎯 The primary goal is to bring all hostages home from Gaza.
• ⚡ A secondary, crucial goal is to ensure Hamas is no longer a military force in the Gaza Strip.

Strategy and Pressure

• 📈 Military pressure on Hamas, especially in the last two months, has been instrumental in advancing negotiations.
• 🌍 When Qatar understood the necessity of pressuring Hamas, it contributed to seeing results in the deal.

Israeli Government's Stance

• 🇮🇱 Israel is a strong democracy, and the Prime Minister is expected to convince most, if not all, cabinet ministers to vote for the deal.
• ⚖️ The deal requires the approval of the entire government, not just the security cabinet, as it involves releasing thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

Broader Regional Impact

• 🕊️ Akunis hopes for a new Middle East where terrorist organizations are not established regimes.
• 🤝 The goal is for countries like Syria and Lebanon to become part of the Abraham Accords.
• 🚫 The primary obstacle to peace in Lebanon is the presence of Hezbollah, and demilitarization of South Lebanon is key.
• 🌍 Demilitarizing Gaza and South Lebanon could pave the way for a new Middle East of peace and progress.