UPDATE - Former Israeli foreign minister hopeful for 2-state solution, says Hamas is ‘main obstacle’

ADDS SOME DETAILS, BACKGROUND

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday stated her hope for a two-state solution, calling the Palestinian group Hamas “the main obstacle” to peace.

Speaking at Germany’s Munich Security Conference, Livni said: “I represent those in Israel believing the idea of two states for two peoples to represent the Israeli interest.”

“There is also a need to understand that also on the Palestinian side, there are those supporting the idea of those states for two peoples,” she added.

“We didn't reach an agreement, but they represent aspirations, legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians for a state. Hamas does not,” she added, saying: “Hamas does not accept the right of Israel to exist and therefore those that are speaking now about eternal peace with Hamas, they don't understand the nature (of Hamas).”

She called Hamas “the main obstacle” to peace.

“I'm a political opponent of (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, but I support the war in Gaza. I support the strategic need to eliminate Hamas as a terrorist organization and as a regime,” she added.

She made no mention of the nearly 29,000 people, mostly women and children, killed in Gaza by the Israeli army since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a cross-border attack that are believed to have been killed some 1,200 people.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

On the Israeli hostages in Gaza, Livni said that “they need to be released,” adding that “these are crimes against humanity."

“I advise all of us to do what we decided on in the first round of negotiations with the Palestinians,” she added, saying: “It’s not about a blame game or history but about finding a solution.”

The Munich Security Conference is concluding on Sunday with leaders' speeches and high-level talks on security challenges around the world, especially concerning the war in Ukraine and Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi