Portrait of Ehud Olmert
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Ehud Olmert on Gaza

Calls for war's end (strong)

TL;DR

Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert strongly advocates for an immediate end to Israel's military campaign in Gaza, deeming it illegitimate.

Key Points

  • He declared in May 2025 that Israel is committing war crimes and negligence in its operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

  • He strongly opposes plans for a 'humanitarian city' in Rafah, labeling it a potential concentration camp and a move toward ethnic cleansing.

  • Olmert advocates for ending the war, bringing back hostages via a deal, and then implementing a transition plan involving regional security cooperation in Gaza.

Summary

Ehud Olmert, a former Israeli Prime Minister, has become a vocal critic of the ongoing military campaign in Gaza, asserting that the war no longer serves attainable goals. He initially supported the counteroffensive following the October 7 attack but shifted his position after many months, concluding that the government's actions constitute war crimes due to the unacceptable and unnecessary casualties inflicted upon non-involved Palestinians. He attributes the continuation of the conflict to the current prime minister's political considerations, which he believes endangers Israeli hostages and serves no legitimate national security interest.

He explicitly warns against proposals like the establishment of a 'humanitarian city' in Rafah, which he contends would amount to ethnic cleansing and a concentration camp. Olmert suggests the path forward involves ending the fighting, securing a deal for the hostages, and replacing Hamas's control with a security force composed of regional partners like the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and Jordan. Furthermore, he actively works toward a two-state solution, believing that a sustainable resolution remains possible.

Key Quotes

I never accuse them, will never accuse them without any basis of trying to accomplish genocide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ehud Olmert strongly advocates for an immediate end to Israel's military operation in Gaza, as stated in a May 2025 op-ed, asserting the war has become illegitimate and is causing unnecessary Palestinian casualties. He believes the conflict is being prolonged for the current prime minister's political benefit, according to reports. Olmert calls for a shift in policy to secure the release of hostages and pursue a sustainable solution.

Yes, Ehud Olmert's position has evolved from initially supporting the counteroffensive following the October 7 attack to now condemning it. According to his statements, after many months, he reached the conclusion that the military campaign crossed a line into committing war crimes. He cites the growing understanding among former Israeli security leaders that the military objectives are no longer attainable as a key factor in his critique.

Ehud Olmert criticizes the current government for continuing the war past the point of military necessity, leading to the killing of many non-involved Palestinians through what he terms negligence and arrogance. He also expressed deep concern over proposals like a 'humanitarian city' in Rafah, which he views as a step toward ethnic cleansing. Olmert believes these actions endanger Israeli hostages and undermine Israel's national security interests.