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Yoav Gallant, a former Israeli defense minister, has warned that Israel would commit a serious error if it resumed military operations in Gaza to eliminate Hamas before guaranteeing the release of Israeli prisoners.
In his first public appearance in the United States, Gallant emphasised the importance of first bringing back Israeli hostages before continuing any military actions.
Gallant, a staunch advocate for Hamas’ destruction, explained that eliminating Hamas without first securing the return of the captives would result in no hostages left to bring back.
His comments come over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new demands for the continuation of ceasefire talks with Hamas.
The first phase of the ceasefire ended on Saturday, and the second phase of the prisoner exchange agreement remains under discussion.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and Gallant due to their actions during the war in Gaza.
The US has refused to comply with the ICC’s call for their arrest.
Hamas has stated that the release of Israeli captives is contingent on negotiations and the cessation of hostilities.
