According to Mr Olmert, Hamas no longer presents a meaningful military threat, “Israel has completely eradicated and destroyed the military capacity of Hamas… it does not pose any significant threat to the state of Israel.”
Ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed on Sunday, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the sides are “closer than they’ve been in a long time.” Still, Rubio acknowledged that similar optimism has unraveled before.
The latest proposal includes Hamas agreeing to release 10 Israeli hostages in return for a 60-day ceasefire, providing a window for talks on a broader, permanent peace.
However, sharp divisions persist. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told NDTV that Hamas is unlikely to release all hostages unless a full end to the war is guaranteed. “That’s their only leverage,” Olmert said.
Israel, on the other hand, has made clear it won’t halt military operations until Hamas is dismantled as a governing and military force in Gaza. “There’s still disagreement over the endgame,” Olmert said. “Hamas wants total Israeli withdrawal and a complete ceasefire, while Israel insists on eliminating Hamas’s power.”
Olmert also raised questions about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The real question is how much pressure Trump is willing to apply to force Netanyahu into a final deal that ends the war,” he said. “Trump has the authority and political weight to pressure Netanyahu. He should’ve used that leverage long ago.”
At home, Olmert described mounting pressure among Israelis for a resolution. “Most Israelis want this war to end now. They want the hostages home now,” he said. “If Trump acts, he’ll find the support of most Israelis behind him.”
Addressing the toll of the conflict, Olmert said, “Sixty thousand Palestinians have died. Thousands of children have paid the price for a war that Hamas initiated, but continuing it without a clear, achievable goal is no longer justifiable.”
He argued that Hamas’s military capabilities have been effectively neutralized. “Israel has dismantled Hamas’s military threat. They no longer pose a serious danger to our security.”
Olmert warned that extending the war could cost more Israeli lives, including the 50 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas. “We have to ask ourselves: Is continuing this war worth the cost in soldiers’ lives?”
When asked about Trump’s proposal to transform Gaza into the “French Riviera of the Middle East,” Olmert pushed back: “I’m not in favor of deporting Palestinians. Gaza belongs to them, and they should remain there. The focus should be on ensuring that terrorist groups don’t regain control.”
He also questioned Netanyahu’s legitimacy, saying that while the prime minister holds a parliamentary majority, it no longer reflects the will of the public. “Those lawmakers were elected nearly three years ago. They don’t represent the current mood in Israel.”
Polls, Olmert said, show a sharp decline in public trust in Netanyahu. “Over 60% of Israelis say they no longer support or trust him.”
He concluded with a message of hope and change: “There is a different voice emerging from Israel — one of compassion, compromise, and a desire to end hostilities and work toward a political solution. Netanyahu is not part of that future. His time is up — and I hope he steps down soon.”
