In a comprehensive and candid interview with Blitz, Israel’s Ambassador to India, His Excellency Mr. Reuven Azar, outlines Israel’s position on Gaza, Hamas, and the expanding threat of transnational jihadist networks across South Asia. From endorsing President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” plan to warning against Hamas’s recruitment among vulnerable communities and stressing the urgency of Israel-India intelligence cooperation, Ambassador Azar presents a clear message: peace without dismantling terror is an illusion.

Question: US President Donald Trump has recently formed a “Board of Peace” with the stated objective of achieving lasting solutions for Gaza. What expectations does Israel have from this initiative, and in your view, can sustainable peace be achieved without fully neutralizing Iranian proxy groups such as Hamas?

Answer: Israel fully supports President Trump’s 20 points plan. The plan creates a clear path for stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza. It is very clear on the need of full dismantlement of Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Israel has already cleared more than 50% of Gaza from terrorist infrastructure. Now it remains to be seen whether this diplomatic initiative can get the other half of the Strip demilitarized. Both President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu have clearly stated that failure of Hamas to comply would force Israel to renew military pressure.

Israel prefers diplomatic means. It is of outmost importance for the international effort to include an element of de-radicalization of the population. Gazans have been brainwashed by Hamas and affiliated organizations such as UNRWA during the last 20 years. They advocated for the destruction of Israel. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority has been doing the same, and therefore the technocratic governing committee of Gaza under the Board of Peace is expected to act differently. It must promote moderation and education for peace rather than conflict.

Question: President Trump has included Pakistan in the “Board of Peace”, despite Islamabad’s long-standing hostility toward the State of Israel and its historical engagement with various militant groups, including Hamas. Some analysts fear that elements within Pakistan’s military establishment – particularly its intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) – could undermine the process through covert alignments with terrorist actors. How do you assess this concern?

Answer: The Board of peace includes dozens of countries and it is headed by President Trump himself. The broad participation by US invitation looks to us as an attempt to bring all the various players, including those with a more problematic attitude such as Pakistan, Turkey and Qatar under the UNSCR 2803 consensus. Like the resolution itself, these countries have adopted the 20 points’ plan and are expected to get Hamas to compliance.

Israel’s security requirements are non-negotiable. We have made it clear that we will not accept the presence in Gaza of forces from states that are openly hostile to Israel or that have a record of supporting terrorist organizations.

Ultimately, Israel’s approach is guided by a simple principle: safeguarding our national security while ensuring that any diplomatic process genuinely contributes to........

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