With the completion of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, marked by the handover of four bodies of Israeli hostages, the fragile balance and the fate of the remaining hostages remain uncertain. GeoTrends spoke with the Israeli Ambassador to Athens, Mr. Noam Katz, about the future of the region, Tehran’s hegemonic ambitions and Trump’s proposal to transfer Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.
In the second part of the interview, the Israeli Ambassador, Noam Katz, reaffirmed the excellent Athens-Jerusalem relations, the effort to complete the strategic electrical interconnection cable, and stressed the deepening of trade relations, both at the national and local levels.
At the end of the conversation, Ambassador Katz noted that his first words to the incoming U.S. Ambassador in Athens will include the importance of the strategic partnership between the three countries.
– Two and a half years since Hamas invaded Israel, the war is not over, and 59 hostages remain in the hands of the terrorists. In your opinion, what is the next phase of the war?
There is a fragile ceasefire, and our main objective, eventually, is to ensure that Hamas no longer controls Gaza, meaning it will not have military or governmental capabilities there. Therefore, until we achieve that goal, the state of war continues.
Currently, efforts are being made by Arab countries to find a solution that will enable us to end the war and rebuild Gaza. There is only one condition for success: Hamas cannot stay in Gaza.
– How have relations with the Greek government been affected during the years of war?
I think this period has proven how strong our strategic partnership is. We have a lot in common when we look at our region and seek stability and security. Additionally, our shared democratic and liberal values bring us together. I would describe our relations as very warm and continuously growing.
– President Trump, in the first days of his administration, publicly expressed the view that the Palestinians in Gaza should be moved to Egypt and Jordan. How realistic is this scenario?
I think President Trump eliminated nuances to focus on the core problem in Gaza. The main issue in Gaza consists of two parts. First, Hamas must be removed. Second, the challenge of rebuilding and reconstructing Gaza due to the devastation caused by the war. However, we must first end the war, and there is only one end to this war: Hamas must be out of Gaza.
Trump’s idea has opened the conversation, and Arab countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan are trying to bring a solution that meets the needs. We will see where it leads. What President Trump did was highlight that we cannot return to the previous status quo and must explore different solutions.
– From the first days of the war, the Turkish government has supported Hamas terrorists by providing them, among other things, with medical care. How do you perceive Ankara’s role both in the development of the war in Gaza and in the broader role it wants to play in the region?
Türkiye is a very important country in our region. It has political, economic, and military power, and we would like to see a country like Türkiye playing a constructive role. Unfortunately, from an Israeli perspective, Türkiye supports radical elements that destabilize the region, such as Hamas.
As I said, we do not see a future solution with Hamas. That being said, our relations with Türkiye are very strained at the moment. We acknowledge that they play roles in other parts of the region, and that is part of the geopolitical reality.
– Nowadays, both Syria and Lebanon have new leaderships, and military clashes near the border have recently decreased. How fragile is the ceasefire with Lebanon and the broader balance of power?
Strategically speaking, our situation today is stronger than before the war. All the forces that belong to the “Axis of Terror,” led and energized by Iran, have been weakened. Iran itself has been weakened and exposed. The attacks on Israel failed; our counteroffensive was successful and further exposed Iran’s vulnerabilities. Hamas is now weaker, and Hezbollah has been significantly diminished, both in military power and political influence in Lebanon.
In Syria, Iran’s entire axis and massive investment collapsed. Thus, strategically, the situation in the Middle East for Israel is better. Moreover, the close collaboration we have with the United States and the readiness of pragmatic countries in the region to stabilize the situation further improve Israel’s position.
Regarding Lebanon, we have pushed Hezbollah back from areas they were not supposed to be in, according to UN Resolution 1701. We hope the Lebanese military and UNIFIL will take over, but we do not trust their capacity at the moment. That is why our policy is clear: when it comes to Israel’s defense, we no longer just complain; we take action.
– You mentioned Iran; do you think that eventually, Iran will leave the region?
Iran has hegemonic ambitions in the region. However, its most significant threat is its military nuclear ambition. Iran seeks to become a nuclear military state, which poses the main threat to regional and global peace. The doctrine of non-proliferation remains a dominant principle in international relations. Iran’s nuclear progress is an enormous concern, as they have significantly advanced in producing nuclear materials.
– Moving to a different field, in his recent visit to Athens, Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen highlighted the need for energy cooperation between the two countries through the “Great Sea Interconnector” power cable. Four years since the initial agreement, how close are we to completing the project?
I do not have a specific timetable, but there is a strong commitment from Greece, Israel, and Cyprus to promote this agreement. It is a project that will create a real connection. Compared to other corridor initiatives, this one is closer to realization, though many steps remain. There is both governmental and commercial commitment, and I hope it will be materialized soon.
– Recently, you were in Crete, a destination chosen by thousands of Israelis for tourism and temporary settlement as digital nomads. Beyond energy, are there commercial opportunities in other sectors, such as agriculture and technological partnerships?
Lately, we have facilitated commercial delegations from Israel to Greece. The main goal of these delegations is to accelerate trade between our two countries and identify opportunities for joint ventures. We see potential in various sectors, including tourism, agriculture, and technology, and we believe these efforts will be mutually beneficial.
Israeli importers have a strong interest in what Greece has to offer across various sectors, and I believe this interest will continue to grow. We also see significant opportunities for collaboration in technology, given the strength of Greece’s advanced research institutes, such as Demokritos in Athens and the FORTH Institute in Crete. There is clear potential for expanding this cooperation, and we also intend to organize similar delegations from Greece to Israel.
– However, returning to energy, Crete is a “staging post” for the EastMed pipeline, which appears to be back on the table with the new Trump administration. Do you think the two governments will seek to restart the project?
This is a commercial project, and the key question is whether its business evaluation will demonstrate to partners and the commercial sector that it is truly beneficial. When considering the EastMed as a concept, it is clear that our goal is to enhance the flow of energy from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe. While there may be competing or complementary solutions, the commitment of the three governments remains strong—to advance every possible opportunity for increasing energy connectivity, whether in the form of renewables or natural gas.
– Ambassador Katz, over these two years, we have seen demonstrations outside the embassy but also hundreds of messages of support. What is your message to the Greek citizens?
I believe the Greek people should view their relationship with Israel as a strategic partnership and recognize the mutual benefits it brings to both nations. Secondly, we share the same fundamental need for stability and peace in the Middle East. Unfortunately, those protesting against Israel fail to see that they are, in effect, supporting a war initiated by Hamas—a brutal, genocidal terrorist organization responsible for unimaginable atrocities, such as the killing of a mother and her two children with bare hands. Such acts are inhuman.
People in Greece must understand that if we truly aspire to a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians, and if we seek a path to lasting peace in the region, Hamas must be eliminated. Hamas is not only an obstacle to peace but also a barrier preventing Palestinians from pursuing a better future. Those who protest against Israel are either misinformed or deliberately misled about the reality of the situation.
– Lastly, President Trump has selected Kimberly Guilfoyle as the next U.S. Ambassador to Athens. If her nomination is confirmed, what insights will you share with her about Greece and its trilateral relations with Israel and the United States?
First and foremost, I wish her success in the confirmation process and look forward to welcoming her to Greece. I am confident that our relationship will be strong, reflecting the deep ties between Israel and the United States. There is no doubt that I will emphasize the excellent relations we share and the key principles that make our partnership with Greece so vital.