(8 Aug 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tel Aviv, Israel – 8 August 2025
1. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in his house
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister:
"This decision is an outright move that will cost the lives of 20 Israelis that are still held by Hamas, and that will not end the military confrontation. They will not bring back about the total elimination of every Hamas fighter."
3. Olmert’s hands
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister:
"To assume that now we are going to reach out for what remained of Hamas and rescue the hostages is a fantasy. It will not happen. And it is totally unacceptable and unforgivable."
5. Sculpture of a bird on a table
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister:
"We’ve been fighting for 22 months, and we had very impressive achievements, military achievements, in the course of these 22 months of fighting. Lots of pains and a very heartbreaking cost for us as well. We were responsible for killing many of the hostages as a result of the military operations in areas which were in the confrontation areas."
7. Wide of Olmert during the interview
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister:
"Decision by the American president to use all his power of persuasion, all his influence and say to (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu, enough is enough, you have to stop it. If (U.S. President Donald) Trump will do it, it will make a difference."
9. Close of photo
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister:
"In the sense of responsibility of the Israeli people and yet at the same time I feel that the rage in the frustration and aggravation which is shared by millions of people is reaching a height which will be like a volcano that will force the government into a dramatic change in its attitude."
11. Framed painting on wall
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister:
"Hamas will release all the hostages if there will be an end of the war and eventually Israeli pulling out from Gaza in exchange for a security force that will take over, made of Palestinians, of soldiers of Arab countries, moderate Arab countries – Egyptians, Jordanians, Emiratis, Bahrainis, Saudis, perhaps with the participation of some Europeans. That will be in charge of preventing any rise of Hamas again to significant military power and to removal of Hamas completely from any leadership position in Gaza."
13. Olmert pointing at paintings and photos on the wall.
STORYLINE:
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Friday that expanding military action in Gaza will not defeat Hamas or free the hostages.
"To assume that now we are going to reach out for what remained of Hamas and rescue the hostages is a fantasy. It will not happen," Olmert said during an interview with The Associated Press.
On Friday, Israel announced plans to take control of Gaza City — an escalation in its 22-month war with Hamas.
The move drew a swift dismissal from the militant group, renewed international calls to end the conflict, and heightened fears for hostages still held in Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly bombarded Gaza City and carried out numerous raids there, only to return to neighborhoods again and again as militants regrouped.
Today, it is one of the few areas in Gaza that hasn’t been turned into an Israeli buffer zone or placed under evacuation orders.
It’s unclear how many people reside in the city, which was Gaza’s largest before the war.
AP Video by Shlomo Mor
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