The Israel can secure the release of the hostages held by the Hamas in Gaza Strip either through talks or “other means”, the deputy director of the Israeli foreign ministry told Reuters Odad Joseph in Dubai on the sidelines of COP28, insisting that Israel remains determined to release all hostages and “destroy Hamas” after the temporary ceasefire ends and hostilities resume.

“Of course we will again come to a point where we will want to find a way to ensure that our abductees are released … in part that could be through some talks, but in part it could be through other means,” he said. without giving any clue as to what he means.

The Israeli official said the destruction of Hamas meant the Palestinian group would “no longer pose a military threat” to Israel or the region and would have no “political influence” in Gaza.

Describing the war as a “complex mission,” the Israeli foreign ministry official said Israel abides by international law and seeks to minimize collateral damage “as much as possible.” “We are fighting Hamas. We are not fighting the Palestinian people. It is also our goal to minimize the loss of civilian lives, Israeli or Palestinian.”