Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, spoke with CNN about the difficult decisions faced by the Israeli military in its operations against Hamas. He emphasized that Israel possesses the capability to end the conflict quickly but chooses a more cautious approach to avoid civilian casualties, despite the complexity of fighting an enemy that uses extensive tunnel networks and human shields.

Leiter described Hamas as a group that deliberately endangers civilians and operates as a 'death cult,' referencing their own rhetoric and tactics. The ambassador shared the personal loss of his son, Moshe, who was killed in Gaza because Israeli forces prioritize the protection of innocent lives, even at great risk to their own soldiers.

He argued that accusations against Israel's military conduct are unfounded, suggesting that a less restrained strategy could have resulted in fewer Israeli casualties but at the cost of civilian lives. Leiter's remarks highlighted the moral dilemmas and sacrifices inherent in the conflict.