An interview with Elad Strohmayer, the new Israeli consul general to the Midwest, on the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks that preceded the conflict in Gaza
I initially declined an invitation to talk with the new Israeli consul general to the Midwest, Elad Strohmayer. Consuls general are not traditionally fonts of valuable information. But Tuesday is the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks that cost 1,200 Israeli lives and the beginning of the war in Gaza that has killed 67,000 Palestinians and spurred a worldwide shift against Israel.
With nations lining up to recognize a Palestinian state, and social media echoing with full-throated condemnation of Israel’s continuation of the war, I felt obligated to hear what the nation’s officials have to say. This interview was done before President Trump’s 20-point peace plan was unveiled, but with talks going on in Egypt now, the Israeli position is even more relevant. Our interview was edited for space and clarity.
Q. What’s happening in Gaza? What are you doing?
A. Our goals are very, very simple. We want the hostages back, and we want Hamas to lay down its arms so it would never be able to threaten Israel. . We cannot end the war knowing that Hamas is still in power or Hamas has the ability to threaten Israel. That’s why we’re operating in Gaza now.
Q. Why doesn’t Hamas surrender? Wouldn’t that end the bloodshed?
A. That’s a question you need to ask Hamas. The reality is that they have a murderous ideology, and that ideology was known from the start, and they are very, very persistent in sticking to this ideology. They actually care nothing for the life of people in general — Palestinian life, Israeli life, Jewish life. Their murderous ideology is not going anywhere. That’s why they’re not surrendering. I might not be able to fight their ideology, because ideas are very strong. I just want to make sure that their ideology doesn’t have the military power to threaten Israel.
Q. You’ve got Donald Trump talking about exiling Palestinians from Gaza and building a new Riviera. What’s going to happen to the Palestinians?
A. I speak for the Israeli government. I don’t speak for President Trump and his administration, but I think his plan is being mischaracterized. He doesn’t want to exile all the Palestinians. The reality is we want to have as minimum casualties in Gaza fighting against Hamas. Look at what’s happening in Ukraine. Ukrainian people could leave and go to neighboring countries. Why doesn’t Egypt allow Palestinians to go into Egypt so we can do what needs to be done to clear Gaza of Hamas? Then anyone who wants to go back can go back.
