Israel doesn’t rule out another ground operation in Gaza

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Eden Bar Tal, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs talked about the ongoing conflict with Hamas and Israel’s strategic objectives. Bar Tal also talked about broader regional dynamics, including the threat posed by Iranian proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis, as well as Israel’s strong and evolving relationship with India. Bar Tal praised India’s support and expressed optimism about deepening ties between the two nations, both strategically and culturally. Edited excerpts:

Firstpost: To start with the latest developments, a lot has been happening in Israel. We know there were strikes this morning, and according to some reports, around 400 people have been killed in Gaza. Would it be safe to say that the ceasefire is over?

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Eden Bar Tal: The ceasefire formally ended on the 42nd day of the agreement, following six weeks of truce during which hostages were released. Unfortunately, some were released deceased. According to the agreement, there was no ceasefire beyond the 42nd day.

During this period, Israel refrained from military action and allowed time for mediators to negotiate a withdrawal proposal. However, Hamas used this time to rearm, recruit terrorists, and prepare additional attack sites. Even now, Hamas is planning further invasions—not on the scale of October 7th, as they lack the same capacity, but with the same intent.

Hamas remains an active terrorist organisation that controls Gaza, and despite ample time for negotiation, it has refused to release hostages or lay down its weapons. Israel has no choice but to act in order to free its hostages and protect its citizens. Many of those kidnapped, including children, have suffered unimaginable atrocities. No moral society could accept such actions.

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Israel gave mediators sufficient time to negotiate, agreeing to every reasonable proposal put forth, while Hamas rejected them all. This is the nature of Hamas—it does not act morally or rationally by any standard of normal, moderate human behaviour. For them, terror is not a means to an end but the end itself. And Israel cannot accept that.

Firstpost: Are the Americans fully supporting the actions you have taken?

Eden Bar Tal: If you listen to President Trump, the Secretary of State and other high-ranking officials, they have made it very clear: Hamas must immediately release all hostages, lay down their weapons, and leave Gaza. This is the official U.S. policy, which aligns exactly with Israel’s stance. We are all on the same page because there is no alternative solution to this crisis.

Firstpost: Will this strike be followed by a ground operation, similar to what we saw earlier?

Eden Bar Tal: Naturally, we cannot disclose any further details about Israeli plans to the public. However, we will take every measure necessary to free the hostages. I would say that the objectives of this war, which Hamas started, were outlined from the beginning by the Israeli cabinet and have remained unchanged."

Firstpost: What are Israel’s goals in this offensive and has Israel achieved any of them in more than a year of fighting?

Eden Bar Tal: First of all, this war has lasted longer due to operational constraints. We have made efforts to avoid harming unarmed civilians, which is extremely challenging. I don’t believe any other military in the world would act as Israel has. Independent experts, including those from the UK and the US, have analysed this and confirmed it scientifically.

Israel is the only army in the world that has kept civilian casualties relatively low despite the difficulties. Hamas exploits civilians as human shields, using their homes and families to protect themselves. This is why the conflict has been prolonged—we prioritize human lives.

Hamas embeds itself within the population, avoiding uniforms except for ceremonial purposes. In combat, they blend into civilian areas, using homes, public buildings, and infrastructure as fighting positions. This makes operations complex, but we are doing our best to both achieve victory and protect innocent lives.

Firstpost: I understand, but when you talk about winning, every operation begins with clear objectives—whether it’s eliminating Hamas or securing the release of hostages—neither of which has been fully achieved. Given the actions taken over the past year, are you satisfied with Israel’s progress? And if you relaunch the offensive, do you believe it will achieve those goals?"

Eden Bar Tal: If I recall correctly, at the start of the war, there were over 250 hostages. So far, we have successfully secured the release of nearly 200 of them. That is a significant achievement, as we have prioritized minimizing casualties—both civilian and hostage—throughout the process.

As for Hamas, they have lost most of their operational capabilities. While they used the ceasefire to regroup and reorganise, our primary objectives remain unchanged: to remove Hamas from governing Gaza, dismantle its infrastructure, and secure the release of all remaining hostages.

Currently, around 59 hostages remain in captivity. Unfortunately, we fear that many of them may no longer be alive due to Hamas’ brutal treatment. However, we will see this operation through—freeing as many hostages as possible and ensuring that Hamas is eliminated as a threat.

Firstpost: What is your key demand from Hamas? Is it just the release of hostages, or have you specified additional conditions?

Eden Bar Tal: No matter how Hamas tries to portray itself, the reality is that it continues to maintain control over Gaza, rearm itself, and fund its activities through propaganda aimed at the Western world. It manipulates humanitarian aid, using supplies meant for civilians to build weapons and traps, preparing for further attacks.

Hamas has openly declared its intention to repeat the October 7 attack. Its leaders have explicitly stated that they will carry out similar assaults again and again. No normal country would allow such threats to go unanswered. Would India accept this? Would Britain? Would the U.S.?

Our stance is clear: Hamas must release all hostages, lay down its weapons, and leave Gaza. That is the only way this war ends.

Firstpost: Now that you have relaunched this offensive and have not confirmed whether it will evolve into a ground operation, do you believe the conflict will remain confined to Gaza, or do you see hostilities spilling over into Lebanon as well?

Eden Bar Tal: Lebanon is a different story. We encourage the international community to support its government and the Lebanese people. Hezbollah, heavily backed by Iran, has controlled Lebanon for many years, but now there is an opportunity for the country to regain its freedom. We urge everyone to help Lebanon on this path to becoming a stable and sovereign nation once again.

I still remember Lebanon in the early 1970s—it was known as the ‘Switzerland of West Asia.’ It was a breathtakingly beautiful country with wonderful people. Now, if Lebanon continues on its current trajectory and resists Hezbollah’s dominance while preventing Iran from financing its influence, it has a real chance to recover. We hope Lebanon will leave the Iranian-backed radical camp and join the moderate world. We remain cautiously optimistic about its future.

Firstpost: Right now, the US has held directed secret talks with Hamas. What sort of a deal are the Americans exploring with them and are you okay with that?

Eden Bar Tal: First of all, there are no direct negotiations with Hamas, except regarding the mechanism for a potential deal. President Trump has made it very clear who is pushing for negotiations and under what conditions. The position of the United States aligns completely with Israel’s: the hostages must be released immediately, Hamas must lay down its weapons, and they must leave.

The previous proposal involved a 50-day ceasefire in exchange for Hamas releasing half of the hostages at the beginning and the rest at the end, provided negotiations were successful. Israel agreed to this framework. Now, we have to see what the negotiations yield, but we are not going to allow Hamas to benefit from a ceasefire without ensuring the release of our hostages.

Firstpost: US President Trump has pledged full military support to Israel. At the same time, his administration is calling for the swift release of an American hostage held by Hamas. Do you feel pressure to reach a quick resolution?

Eden Bar Tal: On the contrary, we are grateful to the new administration for its full support, especially to President Trump. More than that, they have made it very clear and openly demanded the release of all hostages, including American, Israeli, and other foreign nationals still being held. We see no difference between our policy and that of the United States and there is no pressure.

Firstpost: We’ve also seen developments in other parts of the region, particularly in Yemen. What is your assessment of the situation?

Eden Bar Tal: This is another example of Iran’s involvement, and I believe it must be addressed directly. Iran cannot continue to operate behind the scenes—whether through Hamas, Hezbollah or the Houthis. It is Iran that is orchestrating these actions.

President Trump made this clear yesterday in a way that resonated across West Asia. He stated unequivocally that Iran is responsible for the Houthis’ actions, providing them with advanced weaponry and logistical support. The United States has now escalated its response, and Britain has also joined in addressing the Houthi threat. President Trump has made it clear that the Houthis must be stopped—and that the US will take the necessary steps to ensure that happens.

We fully agree with the Trump administration that the Houthis pose a major threat—not just to Israel, but to global maritime trade. Their attacks jeopardize shipping routes from Asia to Europe and beyond. What’s particularly alarming is how the Houthis have blended terrorism with piracy. They have found ways to profit from the chaos, reportedly selling “protection” to certain shipping companies, generating billions in revenue.

This is a dangerous mix of terrorism and organised crime, a violent mafia operation that threatens the global supply chain and drives up the cost of goods worldwide. The United States and the international community are right to take decisive action. Such terrorism and piracy cannot be allowed to dictate global trade and destabilize economies.

Firstpost: Tell us about your relationship with India and how it has evolved, especially during this conflict. What role, if any, do you see New Delhi playing in a resolution?

Eden Bar Tal: First of all, we deeply appreciate India’s position and support. Strategically, Israel analyses global affairs much like the United States does, assessing different regions with a similar approach. India, too, understands how to identify and counter radical elements, recognising their strength and influence.

The October 7 attack was seen by radical groups as a major victory, despite the consequences that followed. In their ideology and culture, any large-scale attack is deemed a success, regardless of the cost. This dangerous mindset, fuelled by indoctrination, is now spreading beyond the region and reaching other parts of the world—including India. It is a serious threat that all moderate nations must acknowledge and confront together.

There is also a historical aspect to our relationship. We are talking about two ancient civilisations—among the oldest in the world—with deep cultural similarities. While we do not share religious ties, there is a strong cultural connection. Both India and Israel have historically been moderate nations, which at times has led to miscalculations by radical elements. Because we do not react with immediate aggression, extremists sometimes mistake our moderation for weakness. However, through experience—sometimes painful experience—we have learned that while moderation is a virtue, it must be accompanied by vigilance and strength.

India is one of our closest friends, and we deeply admire and respect it. Looking ahead, I believe we have great prospects for collaboration. It is essential to bring our people closer—through business communities, NGOs, and cultural exchanges—beyond just government-level relations. From my visits to India, I know that the Indian people are warm, welcoming, and moderate, the kind of people you want as friends and allies.

I strongly believe that our two nations will work together on many fronts—for our mutual benefit and the betterment of humanity.

Firstpost: In India, we say that we exercise strategic patience with some of our neighbours, but they continue to test our patience.

Eden Bar Tal: And I hope they do not mistake that for weakness. Sometimes, when neighbours perceive patience as weakness, it leads to misjudgements. I believe October 7 is an example of that. I don’t want something similar to affect our friendship with India. So, learn from our lessons—we paid a heavy price for it. We must draw conclusions from our painful experience of being a little too optimistic and misjudging the true nature of our adversaries. Please remember, this happened just 18 months ago.

Firstpost: A growing number of Indians are taking up jobs in Israel. What steps are you taking to ensure their safety? What is your message to their families here?

Eden Bar Tal: “First of all, I want to tell the families — don’t worry. Everyone there, including Israelis, is like my own children and my family. They are safe in the same way. This rule protects everyone equally—we don’t distinguish between citizens and non-citizens, whether Israeli, Indian, or anyone else. Everyone is the same in Israel.

I believe you have been to Israel, so you know how Israelis are. They don’t treat outsiders with hostility, and Israel is a very secure place.

It’s a safe and friendly place. Many Israelis, especially in their 20s, consider India one of their top travel destinations. My daughter recently returned from traveling abroad, and her last stop before coming home was India. My younger daughter, like many others, loves India. So, I would say to the families—they will have a great time. Just be careful when driving, whether in India or Israel, as it’s the number one risk. If you drive carefully, everything will be fine.

Firstpost: That’s reassuring. Thank you very much for taking the time and for your words of reassurance.

Eden Bar Tal: Thank you very much and I appreciate your time and appreciate this interview and thank you very much for it.

Firstpost: The headline will suggest that you ruled out a ground operation, but you haven’t done so.

Eden Bar Tal: We don’t rule out anything.