According to AIT News report on 13 August, 2015, Israel has reiterated its stance on ending hostilities in the Gaza Strip, stating that the ongoing conflict could be brought to an immediate halt if Hamas releases all remaining hostages still held in the territory.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel-Harpaz, made this clear on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, during an interaction with journalists.
She stressed that the release of the estimated 50 hostages still in captivity is the sole condition for an end to military operations in Gaza.
“The war in the region could end immediately, if Hamas agrees to release the remaining 50 hostages held in Gaza,” Haskel-Harpaz stated firmly.
She added that Israel’s position remains unchanged since the outbreak of the latest round of fighting, noting that the safety and freedom of its citizens is a non-negotiable priority.
The Israeli official also addressed recent reports surrounding the deaths of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza on Sunday night.
According to her, intelligence gathered by Israeli security agencies revealed that the journalists were active members of Hamas and were engaged in the group’s operations.
“We have concrete evidence that these individuals were not neutral reporters but were directly involved with Hamas activities,” Haskel-Harpaz claimed.
She explained that Israeli intelligence had been monitoring their communications and movements, which allegedly confirmed their collaboration with the militant group.
Turning to broader security concerns, the Deputy Foreign Minister described Iran as “the greatest threat to our world today,” citing its nuclear programme as a major destabilizing factor in the Middle East and beyond.
She expressed fears that a nuclear-armed Iran would significantly escalate tensions in the region and pose an existential threat to Israel.
“Our goal is to ensure a non-nuclear-armed Iran and to end the continued threat to our people,” she said, emphasizing that Israel remains committed to working with international partners to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Haskel-Harpaz’s visit to Abuja is part of a wider diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening Israel’s relations with African nations and explaining its perspective on the Gaza conflict.
The war, which has led to massive civilian casualties and widespread destruction, continues to draw sharp divisions in international opinion.
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