Israeli president discusses hostages, truces, and criticizes Irish PM's tweet in CNN interview
Israeli President Isaac Herzog discusses the release of hostages, prospects for an extended truce, post-war Gaza situation, and criticizes the Irish PM's tweet in a CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer
During an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delved into the topics of hostage release, the potential for an extended truce, and shared some pointed remarks directed at the Irish PM. When asked by Blitzer about the significance of witnessing the reunion of Israeli hostages with their families after being held captive by Hamas for over a month in Gaza, Herzog, while acknowledging the moment's poignancy, described it as bittersweet.
"There is a sense of happiness mixed with sorrow as at least 200 hostages are still being held by Hamas. So far, 41 hostages have been released in the first two days of the truce, and a third group is expected to be released on Sunday."
Herzog was speaking ahead of a third release of hostages on Sunday, which saw 17 more people released.
On Sunday, a Red Cross vehicle arrived at the Rafah border as part of a convoy that is suspected to be transporting hostages who were taken by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack on Israel. The photo was taken by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters.
Who are the hostages released so far during Israel-Hamas deal?
A longer truce?
Herzog highlighted that the original agreement allowed for an extra day of ceasefire for every 10 hostages released by Hamas. He emphasized that it was now up to Hamas to fulfill their part of the agreement by freeing more hostages.
"I truly hope that in this instance, they [Hamas] will release more and more and they will get more and more, humanitarian process."
Post-war Gaza
The leadership of Gaza following the conflict is still undecided.
Herzog envisions a post-war Gaza as a formation that is both effective and representative of the diverse interests involved.
"This is our vision, a temporary process until we can confidently say that Gaza is no longer a terror base. When asked by Blitzer about an international coalition involving Israel, the United States, and others, Herzog indicated it would be similar to that."
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"Furthermore, considering regional stability, it is important to explore the concept of a coalition or combined forces," he emphasized.
His statement follows remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a recent CNN interview, where he discussed establishing a "reconstructed civilian authority" in Gaza following the conclusion of the war.
A two-state solution
Herzog admitted that Israel would play a part in a potential post-war Gaza, emphasizing that "the responsibility for the security and stability of the region, including counterterrorism efforts, law enforcement, and judicial matters, will remain within Israeli jurisdiction until a formal agreement is reached."
US President Joe Biden and others believe that a two-state solution is necessary for lasting peace in the region, but Herzog seems skeptical. "I am open to considering all options for the future, but we must honestly assess whether this solution truly ensures the well-being and peaceful coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians," he stated, acknowledging President Biden's opinion.
"Why would any Israeli immediately rush to this solution when he or she thinks that that state one day can be taken over by Hamas?
Irish prime minister
Saturday saw the release of Emily Hand, a nine-year-old girl with dual Irish and Israeli citizenship. Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar responded to the news, tweeting that "an innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned."
Herzog denounced the comment, stating, "I saw a leader from a distinguished European country tweet about the release of one of the girls who was released last night, saying that she got lost and thankfully has returned home. No, sir. She wasn't lost. She was kidnapped by some of the worst terrorists humanity has seen since World War II."
He also accused Western countries of being "indifferent" to Israeli suffering.
