DER SPIEGEL: Last week, you accompanied European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on their visit to Israeli kibbutzes that were attacked by Hamas. What was your impression?

Regev: It is one thing to read in the news what has happened. But to see it yourself is something different entirely. It was shocking to see destroyed homes where people lived only days ago. The Hamas terrorists didn’t spare anybody. They burned, they raped, they beheaded people. They used almost every method of killing used by the Nazis and their collaborators.

DER SPIEGEL: In a recent statement, von der Leyen said: "Europe stands with Israel. And we fully support Israel's right to defend itself." Do you have the feeling that all 27 EU member states agree?

Regev: Right after the attacks, there was a lot of support for Israel coming from the EU, without any qualifications. But this is beginning to change, and we are going to see more of that. That is why we really appreciate the clear stance taken by President von der Leyen. She showed courage and leadership.

DER SPIEGEL: She was, however the target of harsh criticism from some who said she had exceeded her authority by traveling to Israel to represent the EU and that her message was overly one-sided.

Regev: I really do not understand such criticism. President von der Leyen did the exact thing that is expected from a leader: Following the atrocities Israel faced, she came to us quickly and showed solidarity with a clear public message. I think what she did should be appreciated, not criticized.

DER SPIEGEL: There were some who said that she failed to issue a clear enough reminder to the Israeli government that it should respect international humanitarian law during military operations in the Gaza Strip. Does Israel need reminding?

Regev: President von der Leyen did not ignore the humanitarian situation, this is absolutely fake. During her meetings in Israel, she raised all relevant issues, including the humanitarian aspect. And she has proven that with partners, it is important to speak openly behind closed doors — not through megaphone diplomacy. With this kind of leadership, the EU can become a more important and relevant player in the Middle East. I would like to reiterate that Israel will act according to international law. We have asked people in Gaza to move out of the danger zone because we do not want to harm them. But Hamas is blocking them from moving south.

DER SPIEGEL: It's not just that Hamas is preventing people from heading south. Many civilians, particularly the sick and the elderly, cannot just get in a car and flee.

Regev: We are not telling them to leave within minutes. We are giving them ample time to get out and save their lives. But Hamas is blocking many of them for a reason: The more civilians and children there are who remain in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, the greater will be the pressure for us to stop. But we are not going to stop. Israel will go all the way and eliminate Hamas. And this is why we need support from Europe, a support about which there should be no doubt.

DER SPIEGEL: That pressure is already mounting. According to humanitarian organizations, more than 1,000 children in the Gaza Strip have been killed by Israeli air strikes. Social media channels are full of dreadful images from Gaza. How long do you think European support for Israel will hold?

Regev: Israel is not only fighting for itself, but also for the future of Europe. If Hamas begins to receive sympathy, people will forget what they did. But we need to show that this kind of terrorism cannot stand. We need to eliminate Hamas. Yes, there will be some unfortunate consequences. But if Europe won’t stand united behind Israel, others will notice – and they will take advantage. I hope Europeans won’t realize this only after the terrorists have come for them, too.

DER SPIEGEL: One of Europe's greatest fears is that the conflict will spread throughout the entire Middle East. What can Israel do to contain it?

Regev: This is another reason why Europe needs to demonstrate strong leadership and take a strong position without any nuance. We do not have any intention of opening other fronts, with Hezbollah or with others. We are focusing on Hamas in Gaza. But Hamas hopes that an international outcry about the consequences of the war – a war they have started – will stop Israel from fighting it to the end. The world should not play along. I cannot stress this enough: If this war is not completed in Gaza, it will come to Europe.

DER SPIEGEL: The EU is the greatest donor of humanitarian and development aid to the Palestinian Territories. Now all development aid is to be reviewed, with some calling for its complete suspension. Would that be justified?

Regev: Our fight is not against the Palestinian people or the Palestinian Authority. Our fight is against the Hamas terrorist organization. The fact that Gazans are controlled by Hamas is as unfortunate for them as it is for us. But the EU’s decision to review development aid is the right one. A lot of money has flowed into the Gaza Strip, but obviously economic incentives did not to work. In the end, the only thing Hamas wants to do is kill as many Jews as possible.