Israel’s ousted minister of defense Yoav Gallant has reportedly said the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has achieved all its objectives in Gaza and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a hostages-for-peace deal against the advice of his security establishment.
Gallant was speaking to hostages’ families on Thursday, two days after being sacked by Netanyahu, and reports of his remarks quickly surfaced in Israeli media.
“There’s nothing left in Gaza to do. The major achievements have been achieved,” Channel 12 news quoted him as saying. “I fear we are staying there just because there is a desire to be there.”
He reportedly told the families that the idea that Israel must remain in Gaza to create stability was “an inappropriate idea to risk soldiers’ lives over.”
Citing a source familiar with the conversation, Haaretz also reported that Gallant had said the IDF had achieved all their objectives in Gaza. The Israeli newspaper’s report said Netanyahu’s considerations regarding a hostage deal “are neither military nor political.”
Gallant’s remarks on Thursday are politically explosive in Israel, where the families of the remaining hostages being held in Gaza, their supporters and the Israeli opposition have all accused Netanyahu of keeping the conflict in Gaza going to put off a new election, and the risk of losing power.
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