Sa’ar tells French counterpart Israel could end Gaza war ‘tomorrow,’ if Hamas frees hostages, exits Strip

By Lazar Berman

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3 April 2025, 1:24 pm

9 Edit

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar speaks at the Israeli embassy after his meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, April 3, 2025, in Paris. (AP/Nicolas Garriga)

Israel is ready to end the war in Gaza “tomorrow,” says Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar after meeting his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot in Paris.

“The way is very simple,” says Sa’ar, “hostages back, Hamas out.”

“We are still giving a chance to negotiations to extend the ceasefire and release our hostages on the basis of [US special envoy Steve] Witkoff’s proposal, but it is not open-ended,” he warns.

Both countries, Sa’ar says, are “interested in the stability of Lebanon, the continuation of the ceasefire, and the release of Lebanon from Iranian occupation.”

France is a “friendly country,” Sa’ar stresses, adding that he invited Barrot to visit Israel.