Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar emphasized on Wednesday that while Israel is still focused on pursuing a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages from Hamas, it will not “wait forever.”
“Hamas, which insists on continuing to hold hostages and refuses to demilitarize the Gaza Strip, is pushing for the renewal of war in Gaza,” Sa’ar remarked at a press briefing in Yerushalayim alongside his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard.
He went on to make it clear that Israel will no longer stand by as Hamas continues to pose a security threat. “Israel will no longer tolerate the ongoing threat to its security and civilians from Gaza,” he declared.
Although Israel has resumed military action in Gaza, which Sa’ar described as “limited for now,” diplomatic efforts are still underway to extend the ceasefire and arrange for the hostages’ release. “But we will not wait forever,” he reiterated.
Israel carried out unexpected strikes against terrorist targets in Gaza last week after Hamas refused to free more hostages and dismissed US envoy Steve Witkoff’s ceasefire proposal.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week that President Donald Trump “fully supports” Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Trump’s National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, also voiced his backing for Israel’s decision to intensify military operations against the Hamas terrorist group.
“Israel has every right to defend its people from Hamas terrorists. The ceasefire would have been extended if Hamas released all remaining hostages. Instead, they chose war,” Waltz posted on X.
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