JERUSALEM — Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has publicly backed a Palestinian future for the Gaza Strip, declaring that “Gaza is Palestinian and not Israeli” and calling for a political path to end the ongoing conflict.
Olmert made the remarks while speaking at the People’s Peace Summit in Jerusalem, where he appeared alongside former Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa.
The former prime minister called for an end to the war in Gaza, the release and return of hostages, and renewed diplomatic efforts toward a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
Olmert said any long-term political arrangement should be based on the pre-1967 borders, a framework that has traditionally served as the basis for international efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
He also rejected the idea of Israel maintaining permanent military control over Gaza. Instead, Olmert advocated for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the territory and the establishment of a future Palestinian administration linked to the Palestinian Authority.
According to Olmert, such an arrangement could provide the political framework needed to rebuild Gaza after extensive destruction caused by the war and restore basic services and institutions.
His comments are significant because they come from a former Israeli prime minister who has previously supported negotiations with the Palestinians. Olmert’s position also places him at odds with Israeli political figures who have advocated continued Israeli security control over Gaza or opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Speaking alongside Al-Kidwa, Olmert emphasized the need for Israelis and Palestinians to move toward a political solution rather than allowing the conflict to continue indefinitely.
The remarks come amid continuing international debate over who should govern Gaza after the war, the role of the Palestinian Authority, Israel’s security concerns, reconstruction, and the prospects for a renewed two-state peace process.
Olmert’s call for a Palestinian-led future for Gaza highlights the growing debate within Israel and internationally over whether a lasting solution can be achieved through continued military control or whether it requires a negotiated political settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.
