Eli Cohen Discusses Gaza Conflict and Israel’s Security Strategy in Exclusive Interview

In an exclusive interview with i24News, Eli Cohen, Israel’s current Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and former Foreign Minister, discussed the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel’s future strategy in the region. Cohen defended the necessity of Israeli military operations to pressure Hamas, especially in light of recent rocket attacks from the group. He emphasized the aim to dismantle Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities, comparing the effort to the historical defeat of the Nazis, suggesting no immediate plan post-Hamas but focusing on security over civilian governance in Gaza. Cohen proposed international involvement in civilian activities during a transitional period and criticized Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s call for a post-war plan, stressing the importance of combatting Hamas first.
Cohen also addressed Saudi Arabia’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, indicating a belief that normalization could proceed without the establishment of a Palestinian state, despite international pressure for a two-state solution. He firmly dismissed halting the war for hostage negotiations, denouncing Hamas as “despicable murderers” and insisting on Israel’s right to defend its citizens. Furthermore, Cohen criticized potential legal actions against Israeli leaders by the ICC and ICJ as antisemitic, reiterating Israel’s opposition to a Palestinian state and defending Israel’s historical withdrawal from Gaza.
The interview also highlighted Cohen’s vision of creating a security buffer between Israel and Gaza to protect Israeli civilians, sharing personal accounts of communities affected by the conflict to underscore the need for security and peace.