Israel Ambassador urges context in response to Mahama’s “strong” Gaza criticism 

Mr. Roey Gilad, Israel’s Ambassador to Ghana, has responded to President John Dramani Mahama’s criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza during his address at the UN General Assembly, stressing that the conflict must be understood in its full context. 

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Friday, Mr. Gilad acknowledged that President Mahama “had some very strong points” but insisted that Israel cannot be judged by images alone.  

“The picture really is very sombre, is very sad. And we do not deny that what is happening in Gaza is a tragedy,” he said.  

“But we only ask ourselves, who is responsible for this tragedy? We believe that what Hamas did on the 7th of October brought a huge tragedy for Israel and an even bigger tragedy for the Palestinian people,” he added. 

The Israeli Ambassador argued that Israel’s campaign was about survival and deterrence, adding that the goal was to disarm Hamas and secure the release of the 48 hostages currently being kept by Hamas. 

“Since its birth in 1948, Israel has faced security challenges like no other state in the world. “We want peace more than anybody else. But we know that peace in our region can be achieved only through might, only through force, only through deterrence,” he said. 

Mr. Gilad emphasised that Hamas remained “the biggest enemy of the Palestinian people” and warned that if the militant group was not dismantled, Israel’s efforts would amount to defeat.  

“Specifically on Gaza, if at the end of this campaign Hamas will be standing on its feet, we have lost the war,” he said. 

The current conflict was triggered by Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed hundreds and led to Israel’s large-scale military response in Gaza.  

The war has since caused severe humanitarian suffering and drawn widespread international criticism, including President Mahama’s call for an end to the “crimes in Gaza.” 

President Mahama, in his address at the 80th UN General Assembly, joined calls for a two-state solution to resolving the war, emphasising that: “a two-state solution will not be a reward for Hamas.” 

“The crimes in Gaza must stop,” President Mahama said.  

Mr. Gilad rejected claims that Isreal was committing “genocide” in Gaza and urged the international community to weigh the broader context of the “campaign.”  

He said the civil population of Gaza was being used as “human shield” by Hamas to perpetrate atrocities against the people of Israel, adding that granting independent statehood to Palestine would endanger the safety and security of Israel. 

Mr Gilad said contrary to claims that Israel was blocking aid to Gaza, two million tonnes of aid had entered Gaza since last two years. 

“Releasing the 48 hostages (in the custody of Hamas) alive or dead is our number one priority,” he said. 

Source: GNA 

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