The director general of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jacob Blitstein, reprimanded this Thursday (23) the ambassadors of Spain, the Republic of Ireland and Norway, one day after these countries announced their decision to recognize the Palestinian state, which will be formalized on May 28th.
“Their governments’ distorted decision is a reward for Hamas, and Hamas congratulates them for it,” Blitstein said at the meeting at the Israeli Foreign Ministry headquarters in Jerusalem, according to a statement from the organization.
“This will have more serious consequences for our relations with your countries,” Bltstein warned Ana Salomon of Spain; Sonya McGuiness, from the Republic of Ireland; and Per Egil Selvaag, from Norway.
The three European ambassadors watched a video released yesterday that shows members of Hamas entering a military observation base in Nahal Oz, near the Gaza Strip, detaining and taking away several soldiers. “Recognition of their governments does not promote peace and gives a boost to Hamas, making it even more difficult to promote an agreement for the release of the hostages,” insisted the Israeli diplomat.
Blitstein emphasized that Israel has no intention of ending the war in the Gaza Strip until it achieves its objectives which are “the end of Hamas, the return of all hostages and the return of security for all its citizens.”
Israel summoned the three ambassadors this Wednesday (22) for a “reprimand conversation”, in addition to calling its envoys to Spain, the Republic of Ireland and Norway for consultations, after the three countries announced, almost simultaneously, their intention to recognize the Palestinian state.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the decision a “reward for Hamas terrorists,” and the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “you cannot hand over a state to evil.”
Gaza truce negotiations to resume in Cairo
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a truce in the Gaza Strip will resume “in the next few hours” in Cairo, after Tel Aviv expressed to Egypt its desire for them to continue, Egyptian security sources told EFE on Thursday.
“Egypt received a communication in which the Israeli side requested the resumption of negotiations on a truce in Gaza and the exchange of hostages” for Palestinian prisoners, said the sources, who asked not to be identified.
They emphasized that the indirect dialogue, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, “will resume” from where it was when it was interrupted on the 9th and “will not start from the beginning”. Furthermore, they clarified that this means “sitting at the table to discuss the last truce proposal that was approved by Israel and then by Hamas, before the Israeli side went back and withdrew its approval.” (With EFE Agency)
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