Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called for global efforts to tackle terrorism at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“There has to be a major world effort against terror. Terror is creating havoc in Africa, in all sorts of regions around the world. We must fight terror,” he said.

He repeatedly highlighted the dangers posed by Iran and the groups it supports. The source of evil begins with terror, particularly terror instigated by Iran, Herzog said.

At the same time, he stressed that the Middle East also has opportunities: “We are seeing historical change. We’re seeing change in Lebanon, we’re seeing historical change in Syria. We are seeing historical change, hopefully in the Gaza Strip.”

Herzog assured that following the agreement on a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 33 Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity, he sees the chance for success in the next phase of negotiations.

However, he also acknowledged reservations and fears, saying that as Israel demanded the release of women and children, it was “paying with terrorists, cruel, barbaric terrorists.”

In considering the future of the Gaza Strip, Herzog emphasized Israel’s security interests, stating that the nation still suffers from the trauma of October 7, 2023, when Hamas and other Palestinian extremists stormed the Gaza border and killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, taking another 250 hostage back to the coastal strip.

“How do we make sure that this does not recur?” he asked.

“How do we make sure that it’s not Hamas who dictates and leads that place?

“We have to learn from historic lessons and from all our experiences.”