The former mayor of Jerusalem vowed Israel would do whatever it takes to “wipe Hamas off the face of earth.”
During an interview with Fox News host Neil Cavuto on “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” Nir Barkat, current economy minister for Israel, explained Israel was not just fighting against Hamas for itself, but because “Arab states” and the rest of “the world” also understand the risk of Islamic terrorism spreading.
“You know, this is not just for Israel,” Barkat said. “There’s a reason why the Arab states, the moderate Arab states are waiting for us to beat Hamas. There’s a reason, because the world understands that if the Islamic Jihad is successful in this horrendous attack and they get away with it, it’s going to happen all over the world.”
“That’s why we have to win and have total surrender,” Barkat added. “And we need the help of the world. Give us the time we need. We’re considerate, we don’t want to hurt innocent people, but we have to wipe Hamas off the face of the Earth.”
Speaking with Cavuto regarding the bodies of two Israeli hostages that were recently discovered by Israeli soldiers near a hospital in Gaza City, Barkat said, “Where are the 239 people that were abducted from Israel, that got kidnapped?”
The two hostages had been among the more than 240 people kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. To date, two elderly Israeli women, Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, along with two Americans, Judith Ranaan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17, have been released by Hamas.
“Unfortunately, today, not long ago, we found a body of one of the hostages,” Barkat said. “We had to bring her home, not alive. And, we’re asking, ‘Where are the rest of the hostages?'”
This comes as a deal between Israel and Hamas, reportedly being negotiated by Qatar, could result in the release of roughly 50 hostages and a three-day ceasefire, according to Reuters.
Barkat continued to point out the “atrocities” Hamas committed on Oct. 7, including people being burned alive, women being raped and a baby being placed in the oven and being cooked.
“We saw all the atrocities, they filmed it themselves,” Barkat added. “They were proud of it. This is totally crazy. They’re monsters.”
