After truce ends, our 'full intention' is to go back to eliminate Hamas, says Israeli envoy Naor Gilon

Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon on Friday said that after the truce to facilitate the initial release of 50 hostages ends, the Jewish state will go back to its mission of eliminating Hamas’ control of Gaza and focus on releasing the other hostages. Speaking to ANI news agency, Gilon said, “The cabinet set two targets for IDF. First was to eliminate the rule of Hamas and its capacities in Gaza. Second was to bring back the hostages…Under an agreement brokered by different countries, different governments in the region, Hamas agreed to release about 50 women and children…I think mainly due to the military pressure that Israel put on Hamas there is now this deal and we agreed for four days of ceasefire…”

#WATCH | Delhi | On the Israel-Hamas conflict and the hostages being released today, Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon says, "The cabinet set two targets for IDF. First was to eliminate the rule of Hamas and its capacities in Gaza. Second was to bring back the… pic.twitter.com/YWzcchnpi6

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2023

“After that our full intention, once it is over, is to go back to our mission of eliminating Hamas’ control of Gaza and releasing the other hostages…,” added Gilon. Talking about India’s stand on the Israel-Hamas conflict, Gilon said that India’s position from Day 1 has been very consistent, it was always - first of all, terrorism is unacceptable.

#WATCH | Delhi | On the Israel-Hamas conflict and India's stance, Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon says, "I think India's position from day 1 is very consistent all the time...I think he (PM Modi), the government and Jaishankar wherever they spoke, it was always - first… pic.twitter.com/215Lm1wavW

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2023

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“…I think he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi), the government and Jaishankar wherever they spoke, it was always - first of all, terrorism is unacceptable - which many countries failed to do. They spoke about the two-state solution which is also totally understandable…” said the ambassador. He said that Israel is “very content” with the strong and consistent support it has got from India. “We appreciate it very much,” added Gilon. After 48 days of gunfire and bombardment that claimed thousands of lives, a four-day truce in the Israel-Hamas war began on Friday with hostages set to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The agreement came after weeks of talks involving Israel, Palestinian militant groups, Qatar, Egypt and the United States. As part of the deal, 13 women and children held hostage in Gaza are due to be freed at 4:00 pm, followed by a number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, according to Qatari mediators. Over the four days, at least 50 hostages are expected to be freed, leaving an estimated 190 in the hands of Palestinian militants. In exchange, 150 Palestinians prisoners are expected to be released. The truce, from 7:00 am (0500 GMT), triggered a mass movement of thousands of Gazans who had sought refuge in schools and hospitals from relentless Israeli bombardment begun after unprecedented attacks on 7 October by Hamas militants. Meanwhile, shortly after the truce began, trucks carrying more aid, including fuel, began moving into Gaza from the Rafah crossing with Egypt. With inputs from agencies