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Consul General of Israel in New York Ofir Akunis speaking at a reception on Sept. 15, 2025, in New York City to mark the start of the Jewish New Year. Photo: Provided
The consul general of Israel in New York spoke to The Algemeiner about his plans and hopes for the Jewish High Holidays, as well as the security of Israel and the broader Middle East as the Jewish state continues its military campaign targeting Hamas terrorists in the region.
“The most important thing is the unity. The unity is our strength,” Ofir Akunis told The Algemeiner in an interview last week. “If we continue to stand united as one nation, we’ll defeat all our enemies and bring a better place to the state of Israel and the Jewish communities around the world.”
He also quoted a Hebrew liturgical poem read during Rosh Hashanah prayers called “Ahot Ketanah” which in English means: “May the year end with its curses, and may the new year begin with its blessings.”
Oct. 7 will mark two years since Hamas’s 2023 invasion of and massacre across southern Israel that killed 1,200 people, starting the war in Gaza. Hamas terrorists also took 251 hostages, 48 of whom remain in captivity in Gaza. This year will also be the first time that Akunis is celebrating the Jewish High Holidays — which begin on Monday night with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year — without his two children, who are both serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The consul general said ahead of the holidays he is praying for the speedy return home of the remaining 48 hostages and holds both Hamas and Qatar – a large financial and diplomatic supporter of the terrorist organization – responsible for those still in captivity. Akunis called on the international community to put pressure on Hamas and Qatari leadership to release the remaining hostages.
Earlier this month, Israel launched its ground offensive in Gaza City following weeks of airstrikes, and the military has continued to push deeper into Hamas’s main stronghold. Meanwhile, the Jewish state has also carried out strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar, which for years has hosted top leaders of the terrorist group, as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Hezbollah and the Houthis are, like Hamas, internationally designated terrorist groups backed by Iran.
Akunis, who is also the acting consul general of Israel in Miami, defended his country’s escalation of military actions in the Middle East.
“We are a very, very strong nation. One of the most ancient nations in the world, and after a long, long journey, the journey is still ongoing … And what we are doing right now [is] to protect our people, defend our nation,” he told The Algemeiner. “And we didn’t start the fire on Simchat Torah – they did, ” he added, referring to the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, which occurred on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the annual Torah-reading cycle and the beginning of a new one.
“What we are doing now in the Middle East against terror organizations – it’s not against the Lebanese,” the consul general explained. “We want to live in peace with the Lebanese; we want to live in peace with the Syrians like we are living [in peace] with the Jordanians, Egyptians, Moroccans, Emirates, and Bahrainians … It’s not because we have something against the Gazans; we have a lot against Hamas.”
“We want to live in peace in our region,” he continued. “We cannot live with terror organizations around us anymore. Not with Hezbollah. Not with Hamas, the Houthis, or the other Iranian proxies. The Middle East can be heaven on earth, the center of the world. Why not? There’s one reason: The Iranian proxies and the terror organizations. And when we will defeat the terror organization – and it will be very soon – you will see a new Middle East of peace and prosperity.”
Akunis, like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, compared the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to the Hamas-led Oct. 7 atrocities. When asked for his response to those who criticize Israel’s military actions, Akunis asked, “What would you do? If those monsters would rape your women, will cut your heads, burn you alive – what would you do? And I know the answer. Much worse than Israel.”
The Israeli diplomat also singled out French President Emmanuel Macron for his harsh rebuke of Israel’s war in Gaza, criticism which Akunis claimed is being done because Macron wants “the Muslims in France to vote for him.” France’s Muslim population is over 6 million, making it the largest in Europe.
“We must clean these streets from Hamas terrorists; to destroy all their tunnels,” Akunis said. “Put yourself in our shoes. We must stand as one.”
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