President Pavel: Netanyahu’s Gaza policy complicates support for Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline approach in Gaza makes it difficult for Prague to continue backing Israel, President Petr Pavel told the Czech News Agency. “It is very hard to defend the latest actions in Gaza,” he said, while stressing the need to press Hamas to release remaining hostages.

Pavel noted that his stance differs from that of Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government, which he said supports Israel “almost without reservations.” He added, however, that the difference is not a major rift, only that the cabinet is “reluctant to be critical” of Netanyahu.

The president called the humanitarian situation in Gaza unsustainable and said he would discuss it in a call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog next week.