Criticism of Israel's Gaza policy is met with rejection by the country's foreign minister
In a recent interview, Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, expressed his views on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and international criticism regarding aid deliveries.
Saar rejected international demands to ease restrictions on Gaza aid deliveries, characterising such demands as misplaced or hypocritical amid Israel’s counterterrorism efforts. He emphasised Israel as a victim of terror rather than an aggressor, highlighting double standards in international discourse.
Saar denied accusations that Israel is supplying weapons to Hamas and rebutted claims that Israel is blocking aid arbitrarily. Instead, he pointed to the sources actually arming Hamas and framed Israel's position as combating terror. This stance aligns with his broader rejection of external pressure on Israel regarding Gaza aid delivery, despite ongoing calls from international figures.
Saar prioritised directing world focus to the plight of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, stating that this issue should be at the forefront of Israel's diplomatic messaging. He highlighted Israel's efforts in facilitating substantial amounts of humanitarian aid into Gaza, countering narratives accusing Israel of blocking aid.
Regarding the West Bank, Saar referred to the territory as "disputed territories" rather than "occupied territory". He did not explicitly reject the two-state solution but expressed concerns about a Palestinian state established today, suggesting it could become a jihadist terror state in the heart of Israel.
Saar praised Germany's stance as rational, although he did not directly respond to calls for more humanitarian aid access through the UN system. Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany stated that Israel was doing "the dirty work" for the world.
It is worth noting that at least 500 trucks of aid are needed for Gaza daily, but only about 70 have been allowed in per day in recent weeks. The current number of people experiencing extreme hunger in Gaza, according to the IPC scale for measuring food security, is 469,500. This is significantly higher than the number of people experiencing level 5 hunger in Sudan (637,234).
The ongoing conflict and aid restrictions in Gaza remain a contentious issue, with Saar maintaining a firm stance against international pressure while emphasising Israel's counterterrorism efforts and the plight of Israeli hostages.
- Despite international criticism, Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, maintained that the restrictions on Gaza aid deliveries are essential for Israel's counterterrorism efforts, highlighting the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region.
- In the face of claims about Israel blocking aid arbitrarily, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized Israel's role in facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza, stating that general-news narratives should focus more on the plight of Israeli hostages held in the territory.
