Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi stated that Israel will not allow rehabilitation efforts in the Gaza Strip as long as it will permit Hamas to rebuild its terrorist capabilities.

He further stipulated that rehabilitation will be conditioned on returning Israeli captives and fallen soldiers’ remains that are held by Gaza’s ruling terrorist faction.

The statements were made during Ashkenazi’s visit to Cairo where he met with Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in the Khairy Pasha Palace.

The Israeli top diplomat expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s role in making the historic breakthrough in peace between Israel and its neighbors and thanked Shoukry for committing to regional stability.

The two discussed challenges of preventing Hamas from strengthening and reaching some sort of settlement with the Gaza Strip.