Afrida Rahman Ali (FPJ):
We keep seeing headlines around the Middle East conflict. Israel remains at the centre of global attention. After the ceasefire, many hoped things were drawing to an end. But fresh strikes and fatalities in Gaza suggest otherwise. Could you give us your perspective on the current status of the conflict?
Kobbi Shoshani:
After October 7, it became very clear to the citizens of Israel that we have two major goals. First, we must bring our hostages back home. Second, Hamas must not retain any military capability. As of now, we haven’t fully achieved either. And yes, it’s costly—in terms of lives, injuries, and economic burden. But we’re determined to bring lasting peace to the Middle East. That can only happen once Hamas no longer poses a threat. Ceasefire is not a solution—it’s only a temporary pause.
FPJ:
Hamas is said to be weakened. So why not end the military operations now?
Shoshani:
Hamas still has capabilities—though far less than before October 7. But their aim remains the destruction of Israel. If they are allowed to remain, the violence will repeat. Everyone, including the U.S. administration, understands that a ceasefire cannot be a permanent solution. We are not doing this only for ourselves. Even Arab countries are beginning to see that if Hamas stays, the cycle of violence will never stop.
FPJ:
There are reports of humanitarian aid being blocked and civilians suffering in Gaza. Does this concern Israel?
Shoshani:
We do care about the Palestinians. We don’t have anything against them. Even before October 7, we provided aid, employment, and support. The tragedy is that Hamas exploited this. I’ve seen the faces of the hostages we recovered—starved, tortured, abused. Some reminded me of Holocaust survivors. So no, I don’t trust the claims that hostages were well treated. That’s misinformation. And while we try to minimize civilian casualties, collateral damage is a tragic part of war. But by percentage, this war has had the lowest uninvolved killing in modern conflicts.
FPJ:
Some say Prime Minister Netanyahu is continuing the conflict to stay in power. What’s your response?
Shoshani:
I’m a diplomat, but I’m also a citizen of Israel. Let me say this clearly: the decision to continue the war is not political. It’s strategic. Yes, there is internal debate. That’s healthy in a democracy. But the war is not about power—it’s about security and survival. We suffered a massive intelligence failure on October 7, and people are taking responsibility. The internal security chief has been dismissed. The army chief resigned. There’s accountability.
FPJ:
What about the economic toll? Israel’s credit rating has reportedly dropped.
Shoshani:
Despite everything, Israel’s economy grew by 1.4% during the war. That’s remarkable. Yes, there are burdens—economic, military, civil, and diplomatic. But when you weigh that against national security, you understand the choices. Interestingly, demand for Israeli military technology has increased, especially in Europe.
FPJ:
How do you respond to claims that Israel’s actions are setting a dangerous precedent of indiscriminate civilian killings?
Shoshani:
That’s simply not true. In fact, Israeli pilots have often aborted strikes at the last moment upon seeing civilians nearby. Not because of international pressure, but because it’s in our DNA. We are deeply saddened when uninvolved civilians are harmed. But Hamas deliberately uses human shields. The world must understand that.
FPJ:
Let’s talk geopolitics. This war seems to have brought Iran, Russia, and even China into closer alignment—potentially forming new hostile alliances.
Shoshani:
Initially, yes. But then those nations began to see the cost—economically and diplomatically. Iran’s massive investments in Syria and Lebanon have largely failed. And even in Turkey, I believe there’s a shift happening. Countries are realizing that fueling conflict doesn’t serve their interests long-term.
FPJ:
What is Israel’s vision for post-war Gaza?
Shoshani:
We want a better life for Palestinians—better infrastructure, more water, electricity, opportunity. But to rebuild Gaza, there must be security. Right now, you can’t do that with Hamas still embedded. I read a report just before coming here that Egypt might take in half a million Gazans temporarily to enable rebuilding. If true, it shows regional cooperation is possible. President Trump had a vision for turning Gaza into something like a “Riviera”—and we still believe that could benefit everyone.
FPJ:
Thank you for your time, Mr. Shoshani. We appreciate your frank responses.
Shoshani:
Thank you for having me.
