Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday dismissed mounting international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza and recognition of a Palestinian state, calling it a “distorted campaign” that would only embolden Hamas.
Speaking at a press briefing in Jerusalem, Saar firmly rejected calls to end the nearly 22-month conflict while Hamas remains in power and continues to hold hostages. “It ain’t gonna happen, no matter how much pressure is put on Israel,” he declared.
Saar argued that halting military operations prematurely would be disastrous. “If Israel was to halt the conflict while Hamas is still in power in Gaza and still holding hostages, it would be a ‘tragedy for both Israelis and Palestinians,'” he told reporters.
The minister placed full blame for the war on Hamas, which launched a deadly cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, triggering Israel’s military campaign. He warned that international pressure would only harden Hamas’s stance.
“When they demand ‘end this war,’ what does it really mean? Ending the war while Hamas remains in power in Gaza?” Saar questioned.
The remarks come as global calls intensify for a ceasefire to address Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis. A UN-backed monitor has warned of an “unfolding” famine, with aid agencies urging unrestricted access to deliver food and medical supplies.
Saar also rejected recent efforts by France and other European nations to revive the two-state solution. Referencing French Foreign Minister’s statement that “Europe must pressure Israel to accept a two-state solution,” Saar countered: “Establishing a Palestinian state today is establishing a Hamas state, a jihadist state. It ain’t gonna happen.”
