The lately brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas is not a “strategic” win for the Jewish state, Israeli Economic system Minister Nir Barkat advised CNBC.
Introduced final week, the settlement has to this point seen the discharge of Israeli hostages in change for Palestinian prisoners and can, if honored by all events, proceed to see captives freed and convey an finish to the devastating 15-month struggle between the 2 adversaries.
Nonetheless, talking on the World Financial Discussion board, Israeli Economic system Minister Nir Barkat advised CNBC’s Dan Murphy on Tuesday: “I do not suppose it is a strategic victory. A strategic victory is to carry peace to the Center East.”
He added that such an end result would contain Hamas’ historic ally Iran not attaining what Barkat described as Tehran’s aim to “wipe Israel off the map.”
“We want to ensure they by no means have that. There are fingerprints of Iran throughout our area, throughout Oct. 7,” the minister stated, referring to the Hamas-led assault in 2023 that killed roughly 1,200 in Israel and took greater than 200 hostages.
“We should be sure that they pay a heavy worth for that,” he added, saying Israel should additionally pursue the “jihadists” in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and “all around the world,” in addition to develop the Abraham accords — a set of agreements to normalize Arab–Israeli relations.
“This could be a strategic victory,” Barkat stated.
Folks stroll in direction of their properties by means of the destroyed streets of Gaza Metropolis on January 19, 2025. T
Abood Abusalama | Afp | Getty Photos
Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas assault, and its extreme limiting of meals and support provides into the blockaded enclave, has killed greater than 46,000 Palestinians within the strip, in keeping with native well being authorities.
The United Nations and World Well being Group, together with a number of different worldwide support our bodies, have described the scenario in Gaza as a “humanitarian disaster” because the destruction of hospitals and important infrastructure worsen starvation and illness on the bottom.
For the reason that ceasefire was agreed, the quantity of support heading into the enclave has elevated.
Israel’s financial system minister expressed optimism about newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, suggesting his management will likely be higher for Israel than that of his predecessor Joe Biden.
“President Biden, which we thank him for his assist, was restraining Israel … President Trump is supporting Israel,” Barkat stated. He described Trump as presenting a path that’s extra aggressive towards Iran and extra supportive of increasing the Abraham Accords, which he brokered in his earlier time period.
“I imagine that is the correct angle within the Center East. You have to be very aggressive with the dangerous guys and good with the nice guys,” he stated. “And, thoughts you, that the peace that we’ve got with our neighbors — with Egypt, 40 years and with Jordan, 25 years — the Abraham accord, 4 years [since 2020] caught by means of this spherical of violence. They perceive that we collaborate.”
The Biden administration supplied Israel with $17.9 billion in navy support within the 12 months since Oct. 7, 2023, in keeping with a report for Brown College’s Prices of Conflict challenge printed in October 2024.
