Itai Biran, the Consul for Political and Commercial Affairs at the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, defended Israel’s war against Hamas, pushed back on narratives blaming Israeli leadership for the lack of a ceasefire, and condemned Western efforts to pressure the Netanyahu government into premature peace concessions.
Biran’s remarks came in response to growing international criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza, including allegations from humanitarian workers and claims from European leaders that Israel must agree to a ceasefire or face unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
Addressing those calls, Biran argued that any formal recognition of Palestinian statehood in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks would be, in effect, a reward for terrorism. He referenced recent comments from Hamas officials who openly described global recognition as a direct result of the October 7 massacre. “That’s rewarding terror, plain and simple,” Biran said, reiterating that Israel’s position is that peace cannot emerge from violence.
The conversation followed an extended clip played earlier in the program featuring British author Douglas Murray, who laid blame for the continued violence squarely at Hamas’s feet. Murray criticized Western assumptions that wars must always end in compromise and ceasefires, arguing that this mindset effectively prevents Israel from defeating Hamas decisively. Biran echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that Hamas initiated the conflict by launching a brutal surprise attack last fall and continues to hold dozens of hostages in Gaza.
Biran provided updated figures on the humanitarian situation, stating that Israel is facilitating large-scale deliveries of food, medicine, and hygiene products into Gaza on a daily basis, with over 300 aid trucks entering the territory each day. He defended the integrity of Israeli aid efforts while accusing Hamas of looting and reselling donated goods to fund its war operations.
Biran also dismissed allegations that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have targeted unarmed Palestinians at aid distribution centers, stating that such claims misrepresent the facts and fail to acknowledge Hamas’s strategy of embedding operatives among civilians.
When asked about internal pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire agreement, Biran insisted that most Israelis support the continuation of military operations until Hamas is dismantled. “We learned a hard lesson on October 7th,” he said. “Peace cannot be made with those who seek your destruction.”
The discussion also turned to the role of Western media in shaping international perceptions of the war. Host Dan Proft criticized outlets like the Associated Press for sympathetic coverage of Hezbollah militants and accused major news organizations of amplifying terrorist propaganda. Biran was more restrained in his assessment, attributing some coverage to misinformation or lack of context, though he acknowledged that certain reports cross a line into outright distortion.
Proft and Biran also addressed a bizarre report from the Jerusalem Post involving a descendant of a German industrial dynasty linked to the Holocaust who now plans to join a flotilla in support of Gaza. Biran called the move “Kafkaesque,” adding that anyone truly committed to peace and human rights should oppose Hamas, not provide them cover.
Biran concluded by reiterating that Israel remains committed to defeating Hamas not only for its own national security but for the future stability of the region. “Israelis want peace,” he said. “But it can’t come through illusions or appeasement.”