Israel’s former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly told the families of Israeli hostages on Thursday that the military had achieved its key objectives in Gaza and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had dismissed a proposed hostage-for-peace deal despite recommendations from his own security advisors. Gallant, who was recently removed from his position by Netanyahu, expressed concerns over Israel’s continued presence in Gaza, according to Israeli media.
“There’s nothing left in Gaza to do. The major achievements have been accomplished,” Gallant was quoted as saying by Channel 12. He added that remaining in Gaza to promote stability was an “inappropriate idea” that risked soldiers’ lives unnecessarily.
Sources close to Gallant’s conversation reported that Netanyahu’s reasons for rejecting a hostage deal were neither military nor political. He stated that the decision on any exchange involving the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons rested solely with Netanyahu. According to Haaretz, the former defense minister further emphasized that Israel’s military presence in Gaza’s Philadelphi corridor near the Egypt border held no security value.
Efforts led by the Biden administration since May have sought to broker a phased agreement involving a hostage release. While initially accepted by Israel, Netanyahu later linked his support to an IDF presence on the Gaza-Egypt border, which Hamas rejected, prompting U.S. officials to view Netanyahu as a potential roadblock to peace.
Gallant’s dismissal, along with recent hardline legislative moves by Netanyahu’s coalition, highlights the shifting dynamics within Israel’s government. This week, a bill backed by Netanyahu’s Likud party, allowing the deportation of family members of convicted terrorists, was passed, a measure widely interpreted as targeting Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Meanwhile, hostilities continue to escalate across multiple fronts. Hezbollah remains committed to sustaining attacks on Israel in retaliation for the Gaza offensive. Lebanon’s civil defense reported 30 deaths from an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in Barja, while IDF reports claim 60 Hezbollah fighters were killed within 24 hours.
In Gaza, local health officials report that ongoing bombardment has resulted in over 43,000 Palestinian casualties in the last 13 months. This recent surge of violence has also claimed more than 3,000 lives in Lebanon, primarily within the past six weeks, as regional tensions remain high.