LONDON

Israel is "serious" about reaching a hostage deal and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as there are "some positive signs," its foreign minister said Wednesday.

Gideon Saar said Israel said "Yes" to US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff's proposal for a ceasefire.

"Hamas still holds 50 of our hostages in crew captivity. The war can end tomorrow if it releases them and lays down its arms," he said at a news conference alongside his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, in Tallinn. "We are serious in our will to reach a hostage deal and a cease-fire. There are some positive signs. I don't want to say more than that right now, but our goal is to begin proximity talks as soon as possible."

Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported Tuesday that Qatar submitted a new proposal to Israel that includes a 60-day ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement.

Turning to the recent conflict between Iran and Israel and the US bombing Tehran’s nuclear facilities, the foreign minister labelled it "a huge success," adding that they "sent it many years back."

"Iran's nuclear program was a huge threat to the international community, he said. “Iran's ballistic missiles program threatened Europe, too.”

Saar said Israel severely damaged Iran's nuclear program and also harmed the Iranian drone supply, which is "the very same technology used by Russia against Ukraine."

A 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran erupted June 13 when Israel launched air strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, killing at least 935. Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes, killing at least 29, while the US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.​​​​​​​

The conflict ended under a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect June 24.

The Israeli diplomat also expressed support for Ukraine against Russia.

Tsahkna said that the two diplomats discussed the situation in Gaza and issues related to the delivery of humanitarian.

He reiterated that Israel "has a right to protect itself," however, said his message was "very clear" that the situation in Gaza must be improved in terms of the amount of humanitarian aid delivered into the besieged enclave.

Tsahkna hailed Israeli strikes targeting Iran's nuclear program as a "successful attack.”

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a genocidal war on Gaza, killing more than 57,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, since October 2023.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.