From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 6, 2024
FM Katz: Israel’s war aims against Hamas have not changed, the nation says ‘Never again’
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has no intention of releasing all the hostages being held in Gaza, Foreign Minister Israel Katz alleges, even if Israel emptied its prisons of Palestinian prisoners.
“He believes that the world will pressure Israel to stop the war unconditionally,” writes Katz in a tweet, “and he will be able to continue ruling Gaza — while he holds the hostages as bargaining chips — with the ability to continue a war of attrition against Israel’s home front while planning the next attack.”
Katz says that the deadly Hamas rocket attack on Kerem Shalom was “a reminder who the Nazi terror organization Hamas is.”
Israel’s goals in the war on Hamas have not changed, stresses Katz — releasing all the hostages and defeating Hamas.
“Today,” he writes,” on Yom Hashoah, the imperative ‘Never Again’ takes on a special meaning. The nation of Israel says, ‘Never Again.'”
The Times of Israel Community.