German President: We Will Not Allow Hamas to Achieve Its Goal of Destroying Israel

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of Germany, who is on a two-day visit to Israel, stated at a press conference with Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, "We cannot allow Hamas to achieve its goal of destroying Israel." He noted that Hamas has created terror and fear in Israel with its attacks, resulting in many families losing their loved ones and many people living in despair. The German President added, "Since the Holocaust, never before have so many Jews been killed in a single day as on October 7. The war between Israel and Hamas is not only a military conflict but a struggle for Israel's survival and its right to defend itself." Steinmeier also stated, "Hamas was the initiator of the war in the region, and no one can condemn Israel for defending itself and fighting terrorism." Following the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of about 240 others, Israel entered into war against Hamas and initiated a ground invasion of Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamist group. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, and Israel.