Documentation of shooting from the buildings of the Shifa hospital/IDF spokesman
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said this morning (Tuesday) that there are red lines concerning the hostage deal that should not be crossed in order not to damage the achievements of the war against Hamas in Gaza.
"We want and know that we will have to pay prices to release our abductees," he said in an interview with 103FM.
"We have to do everything, but there are red lines and they are not to harm the achievements of the war."
"Israel must preserve the achievements of the war," he added.
"Therefore, the principle is simple - we will indeed pay in a time-out, which has meaning, if we have to, under such and such conditions, to release some of the terrorists as well, but in the end Israel will remain in Gaza, on the lines of preparation, and will not be allowed to erase the achievements of the war. Since the military pressure Gober and according to the rumors based on whether indeed they estimate that the Chief of Staff of Hamas was eliminated and that we are following them, there are estimates of very high probability, but in the State of Israel there are indicators according to which they operate and only when you have absolute verification do you say 'indeed it is so', their consciousness says that he was eliminated.
They understand that the IDF is also operating in Shifa once again."
Foreign Minister Israel Katz at the UN Security Council, last week/official website, Shlomi Amsalem, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
do not miss
The publication that shows: IDF strikes have reduced the scope of Hezbollah's ammunition
After the review - the coalition decided to remove the rabbinic law from the agenda
The USA confirms: Marwan Issa was killed in an Israeli attack
"First time they really treated the cause of my fibromyalgia"
The foreign minister also referred to Israel's plans for the continuation of the fighting, including a broad attack in Rafah.
"The Israeli policy is very clear, we talked about four stages - the containment, the decision, the cleanup and the day after," he said.
"The containment was and the decision is happening even as far as Khan Yunis, and currently the only place that has not yet been decided in terms of the organized force is Rafah. We will not leave Hamas in control of Rafah below and above ground, because then the meaning is that as soon as you leave, they return. We know how to express our position, we We are having a dialogue with the USA, and it is also a fact that the USA does not say anywhere to Israel 'don't enter Rafah', we have our positions, it wants to see a plan for the evacuation of civilians and there will be one. It will not be for the north of the Strip, the meaning is to allow them to develop the the infrastructure, to prevent us from acting to thwart the rest of Hamas, and the threat to the settlement. There is a clear plan, its assumed directions are clear, towards the west, a little north of Rafah. We must do this in order to act against Hamas itself."
Activity of IDF forces in the Gaza Strip, last week/IDF spokesman
As for the ongoing fighting against Hezbollah in the northern arena, Katz said that he opposed the evacuation of the residents.
"Since a long time ago, I was the one who opposed the evacuation of the residents of the north. I said similar things but in real time. I said that they should be avoided, protected and deterred. Just as they don't shoot at Haifa and the Kiryat today, they wouldn't dare shoot. Right now it's a fact that's already been done, all of us, The entire government, all the cabinets, are united around the principle that it will not be possible to return the residents without restoring security - to withdraw Hezbollah in a practical way in the direction of the Litani. I am both an activist, and others, in front of officials, our message is clear. The world that does not want the destruction of Lebanon is putting pressure on Iran. This limited campaign could end, if it doesn't happen it will expand, we too will pay a price but we will be crippled very strongly to allow security for the return of the residents."
Regarding his call to the European Union's foreign minister to stop attacking Israel, Katz said that "it is a fact by the way that many others joined me yesterday who prevented him. He wanted to make a decision to re-examine the agreement between Israel and the European Union. This is brash. An unbalanced line. I told him, 'You will take care "Condemn Hamas, do not prevent Israel from exercising its basic right of defense."
More on the same topic:
Israel Katz
abducted
War of Iron Swords
Gaza war
Ministry of Foreign Affairs