The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

By: Gershon Baskin – June 19, 2025

The war with Iran has distracted us from the 53 hostages who have remained in Gaza for 622 days. According to one of the mediators I spoke with yesterday, negotiations with Hamas are continuing, and there is still room for hope. When I heard this, I thought to myself: What a naive statement! From what I understood, Hamas has not changed its main demand: an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza permanently. And we all know that Netanyahu and his government reject this condition.

While Iranian missiles are being fired at Israel, the Israeli government is busy demonstrating its power – its ability to inflict mass destruction on Iran. It is trying to convince the Iranian people that the bombings are only aimed at the ayatollahs’ regime, not at civilians. But all eyes are on Gaza: the war that was supposed to hit only Hamas has turned the Strip into a wasteland. Two million Palestinians have been left homeless; the infrastructure has been destroyed – there are no schools, universities, hospitals, roads, electricity, water or a functioning government. An entire civilization has been wiped out, while Netanyahu waits for total surrender to come. Hamas will not surrender. Now, Trump is adopting the same approach towards Iran – demanding total surrender of the regime. It will not happen. The dangerous leaders in Iran, Hamas, Israel and the White House treat us, the citizens, as pawns in a game of chess – they do not care whether we stand or fall.

No, we do not want Iran to have a nuclear bomb. Iran is an advanced scientific and technological power. Its nuclear program has existed for over 30 years. Does anyone really believe that if they wanted a bomb, they wouldn't have gotten it by now? Pakistan and North Korea, the less sophisticated ones, have gotten a bomb relatively easily. According to expert assessments (with which I agree), Iran is aiming for a "threshold nuclear capability" - the ability to produce nuclear weapons in a short time if it decides to, in violation of international agreements. However, preventing a bomb is possible through US-led negotiations. Let’s not forget: the 2015 nuclear agreement limited Iran’s uranium enrichment. It was Netanyahu who convinced Trump to withdraw from the agreement – a step that brought Iran closer to nuclear capability than ever before. Israel’s alleged “shield” actually accelerated the danger. The current war may result in an agreement that prevents nuclear enrichment in Iran, but that was possible through diplomacy – accompanied by credible military threats.

Netanyahu has managed to divert the conversation from the failure of October 7, the hostages, the war in Gaza (which claims the lives of Israeli soldiers and innocent Palestinians every week), and also from the destruction and killing in the West Bank by Israel. While Israelis cheer for “victories” against Iran, I feel no safer in a world that hates Israel more than ever. We have become accustomed to the idea that only military force solves problems.

Last weekend, Israeli and Palestinian organizations held a conference in Paris with 300 Israeli and Palestinian participants (including residents of Gaza), with a clear call for peace. The conference took place during the Israeli attack on Iran. France refused to approve visas for 33 Palestinians from Gaza in Cairo (only 3 were granted). The remaining ones gathered and sought to convey a message to the Israeli participants: We are interested in peace with the State of Israel and wish the conference success. This was an open meeting – not behind closed doors. The message from Paris: It is time to end the conflict. No more wars. No more blood. Regime change is needed – not only in Iran (for the freedom of its people), but also in Palestine and Israel – for the sake of our freedom.

So is there hope? Wars end. A good end to war is a supervised agreement. This is what is needed for Iran and for Gaza and the Palestinian people and the Israeli people. Israelis will not forget Netanyahu's damage; Palestinians - the damage of Hamas; Iranians - the damage of their regime. Now is the time to send clear messages beyond borders: Iran must return to its people (which is not an enemy of Israel); Israel and Palestine must recognize each other. Sanity demands a ceasefire now! I joined a joint call with Israelis and Iranians that ends with these words: "We reject the so-called violent fate as the only 'solution.' Endless wars will not benefit our people - who deserve peace and security."