Visiting Zambia, Herzog says Israel wants ‘nothing more than peace with Palestinians’

President Isaac Herzog met his Zambian counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema, in Lusaka today, becoming the first Israeli president to visit the southern African country.

While meeting with Hichilema, Herzog commented on regional matters, stating that, “We want peace. We seek peace. There is nothing we want more than peace with our Palestinian neighbors,” according to a readout from his office.

The president adds that Israel has faced a “terrible period” since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, noting that the atrocity “claimed the lives of citizens from many nations, including from African countries,” and that, only last week, Hamas released the remains of slain Tanzanian hostage Joshua Loitu Mollel.

“We wish to continue moving forward toward dialogue and stability,” Herzog says, but calls first for the return of the remaining four slain hostages held in Gaza.

In a post on X, Herzog thanks Zambia for its “deep friendship and their solidarity with the people of Israel,” adding that the two countries share a bond “reflected in cooperation across many fields including innovation, science, health, food security, and water management, as well as tourism, investments, and advancing potential trade.”

The president hails “a new chapter of bilateral relations” with Lusaka, saying that Israel seeks “to alleviate the man-made and natural humanitarian crises in Africa.”

In August, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar opened an Israeli embassy in Lusaka, over three decades after Israel and Zambia reestablished ties, as part of ongoing efforts to expand and deepen Israel’s ties with African countries.