President Mahama did not mention genocide – Israeli Ambassador responds to Mahama’s UN criticism

Israel‘s Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Roey Gilad, has responded to President John Dramani Mahama‘s criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, stressing that the conflict must be understood in its broader context.

At a press conference in Accra, Mr Gilad acknowledged that President Mahama “had some very strong points” in his UN General Assembly address, but insisted that Israel could not be judged solely by images of the war.

“The picture really is very sombre, is very sad. And we do not deny that what is happening in Gaza is a tragedy,” he said. “But we only ask ourselves, who is responsible for this tragedy? We believe that what Hamas did on the 7th of October brought a huge tragedy for Israel and an even bigger tragedy for the Palestinian people.”

He argued that Israel’s campaign was about survival and deterrence, with the goals of disarming Hamas and securing the release of 48 hostages currently in captivity. “Since its birth in 1948, Israel has faced security challenges like no other state in the world. We want peace more than anybody else. But we know that peace in our region can be achieved only through might, only through force, only through deterrence,” he said.

Mr Gilad described Hamas as “the biggest enemy of the Palestinian people” and warned that Israel’s efforts would fail if the militant group survived the war. “Specifically on Gaza, if at the end of this campaign Hamas will be standing on its feet, we have lost the war,” he stressed.

The conflict was triggered by Hamas’ surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed hundreds and prompted Israel’s large-scale military response in Gaza. The war has since caused severe humanitarian suffering and drawn widespread international criticism, including President Mahama’s call for an end to what he termed “crimes in Gaza.”

Addressing the UN General Assembly, President Mahama joined calls for a two-state solution, emphasising that “a two-state solution will not be a reward for Hamas.” He said: “The crimes in Gaza must stop.”

Rejecting accusations of genocide, Mr Gilad urged the international community to weigh the broader context of Israel’s “campaign,” accusing Hamas of using Gaza’s civilian population as a “human shield” while committing atrocities. He also argued that granting Palestine independent statehood would endanger Israel’s safety and security.

He further dismissed claims that Israel was blocking aid, noting that two million tonnes of supplies had entered Gaza in the last two years. “Releasing the 48 hostages (in the custody of Hamas) alive or dead is our number one priority,” he said.