Israel's Opposition Leader: Opportunities For Palestine's Independence Are Not Dead, But Hamas Attacks Delay Two-State Solutions

Yair Lapid. (Wikimedia Commons/Spokesperson unit of the President of Israel/Kobi Gideon)

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the opportunity for independence for Palestine as a country was not dead, but the attack by the Hamas militant group on the southern region of Gaza on October 7 caused the realization of a two-state solution to be delayed.

This is the first time an Israeli MP has spoken about the idea of a two-state solution after Hamas' attack, without directly rejecting the formula, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did.

"I think what happened has delayed the possibility of a two-state solution, for the Palestinian state, and I say this is a supporter of a two-state solution," Lapid told The Majalla, a Saudi Arabian-based magazine..

"Over the years, we who support the Palestinian state have always said, 'We need to make sure that we have the security measures Israel needs to ensure that our people are safe and healthy,'" he explained.

The Hamas militant group carried out an attack on Israel's southern region on October 7, leaving about 1,200 people dead and about 240 people held hostage.

Israel responded by bombarding and carrying out a total blockade of the Gaza region. Later, Israel also launched a ground operation north of the enclave, before this month expanding operations to the southern region.

"Overall, the concept of security for our people has been changed after October 7," explained Lapid.

"Unlike PLO or PA, Hamas has never supported a two-state solution and they are doing everything they can to delay this," he said.

So far, the Hamas and Israel war, which has entered its 77th day, has killed about 20 thousand people in Gaza. Meanwhile, on the Israeli side, about 1,200 people died as a result of the October attack.

However, Lapid believes, the solution of the two countries with the independence of Palestine as a country is not dead, but is delayed due to the conflict.

"I think the idea is not dead. I think this will be delayed significantly, because we need to find a way to ensure the safety of our people," concluded Lapid.