The recently reached ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement is not a “strategic” victory for the Jewish state, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat told CNBC.
The agreement announced last week has so far seen the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and will, if respected by all parties, continue to see the release of prisoners and an end to the devastating 15-month war between the two rivals.
However, speaking at the World Economic Forum, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat told CNBC's Dan Murphy on Tuesday: “I don't think it's a strategic victory. The strategic victory is bringing peace to the Middle East.”
He added that such an outcome would lead to Iran, Hamas's historical ally, not achieving what Barakat described as Tehran's goal of “wiping Israel off the map.”
“We need to make sure they never get that. There are Iran's fingerprints all over our region, all over October 7,” the minister said, referring to the 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel and caused… Killing more than that. More than 200 hostages.
“We have to make sure they pay a heavy price for this,” he added, saying Israel must also go after “jihadists” in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and “all over the world,” as well as expand the Abraham Accords – a set of agreements. Agreements to normalize Arab-Israeli relations.
“This will be a strategic victory,” Barakat said.
People walk toward their homes through the streets of devastated Gaza City on January 19, 2025. T
Aboud Abu Salama | AFP | Getty Images
Continued Israeli bombing of Gaza in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, and severe restrictions on food and aid supplies reaching the besieged Strip, have killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in the Strip, according to local health authorities.
The United Nations and World Health Organization, along with many other international relief bodies, have described the situation in Gaza as a “humanitarian catastrophe” as the destruction of hospitals and vital infrastructure exacerbates hunger and disease on the ground.
Since the ceasefire was agreed upon, the amount has increased Aid is heading to the pocket It has increased.
The Israeli Minister of Economy expressed his optimism about the new administration of US President Donald Trump, noting that his leadership will be better for Israel than the leadership of his predecessor, Joe Biden.
“President Biden, whom we thank for his help, has been holding back Israel,” Barakat said. “President Trump supports Israel.” He described Trump as offering a more aggressive path toward Iran and more supportive of expanding the Abraham Accords, which he brokered in his previous term.
“I think that's the right attitude in the Middle East. You have to be very aggressive with the bad guys and good with the good guys,” he said. “And remember that the peace that we have with our neighbors – with Egypt, 40 years and with Jordan, 25 years – and the Abraham Accords, four years later (since 2020) has remained stuck during this round of violence. They understand that we are cooperating.”
The Biden administration has provided Israel with $17.9 billion in military aid per year since October 7, 2023, according to a report by the Brown University Costs of War Project published in October 2024.
