For this reason, the Israeli state expects the same level of international support in light of the ongoing conflict.
Expressing deep concern, the ambassador spoke about the actions of Hamas, grappling with the harrowing consequences of their actions: “The youngest hostage in Gaza is a six-month-old baby. Does this baby have what they need? Do they still have their mother? Is she dead? What’s happening to the baby? Many people in wheelchairs have been kidnapped. We’ve seen women with blood on their trousers in videos published by the Palestinians. Have they been raped? Are they currently being raped? These are questions that the Israeli population asks itself all the time.”
First and foremost, “we need to know who is supporting Hamas, such as Russia, Iran, and Lebanon.” In addition, Rosenzweig-Abu called upon the Palestinian people to reconsider their support for Hamas, emphasising the vital role it plays in the group’s functioning. She stated, “No longer support Hamas, no longer finance them, no longer go to their rallies. It’s important to them. No longer open your houses for them. Hamas is a terror organisation, but it is also a political party within Palestinian society and it depends on Palestinian support. Palestinians know that there will be no salaries because of Hamas for the next two weeks, for the next month. There will be pressure on Hamas to at least send the civilians back to Israel.”
While the ambassador neither could nor would reveal specific actions planned by the Israeli military, she did emphasise the intent to target and dismantle the entire leadership of Hamas: “We want to demolish the entire leadership of that organisation. And we know where they are. Not always, but from time to time, because we’ve succeeded before hitting the heads of that organisation. So, we aim to demolish this organisation’s capabilities for a long, long time, if not forever. Will we succeed? I don’t know. But I hope so.”
Idit Rosenzweig-Abu also stated that the inhabitants of Gaza would be encouraged to leave the city centres to get to safety as quickly as possible, in the event of a ground offensive.
