Czech President Petr Pavel commenced a significant diplomatic visit to Tel Aviv this morning, aiming to engage with key Israeli leaders and address the aftermath of the recent conflict in Gaza. During his stay, President Pavel is scheduled to hold discussions with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and War Cabinet member Benny Gantz.

The visit also includes meetings with the families of Israeli hostages, and possibly with hostages who have been released. The hostage situation arose from a terrorist attack by Hamas, where gunmen targeted the Israeli border area on October 7, resulting in casualties and kidnappings. While a portion of the hostages was released in November, approximately 130 individuals remain in captivity.

President Pavel, formerly the Czech Chief of the General Staff and NATO Military Committee chairman, plans to visit one of the military bases near the Gaza Strip that came under attack. The diplomatic engagement will also extend to the signing of a memorandum on cyber cooperation between Israel and the Czech Republic.

The Gaza conflict has left a devastating toll, with Israeli military operations reportedly causing over 23,000 Palestinian casualties, predominantly among women and children. Additionally, Israel’s restrictions on essential resources in the territory have led to a severe humanitarian crisis, leaving hundreds of thousands at risk of famine and infectious diseases. Ongoing hearings at the International Court of Justice are assessing whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide, based on charges brought by the Government of South Africa.

This visit follows earlier diplomatic engagements by Czech officials in response to the Hamas attack. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil, and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamova have all visited Israel in recent months.

Post his visit to Israel, President Pavel is scheduled to travel to Qatar, where he will meet the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Thani, and Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah. The Czech President will also engage with the Czech community at the Czech Embassy in Doha, highlighting the multifaceted nature of his diplomatic mission in the region.

Article by Prague Forum