Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to finalize a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to secure the release of the remaining hostages from Gaza. This plea came as the bodies of six hostages, abducted on October 7, were returned.
Gallant emphasized on the social media platform X, "It's too late for those who were brutally murdered. We must ensure the safe return of those still held by Hamas." He urged the political-security cabinet to reconvene immediately and reconsider their decision to maintain troops in the Philadelphi corridor, a strategic area along Gaza's southern border.
Netanyahu's decision to keep troops in the corridor to prevent weapon smuggling by Hamas from Egypt has been viewed as a significant barrier to reaching an agreement with Hamas, facilitated by Egypt and Qatar. Gallant has frequently disagreed with Netanyahu and other hardline ministers regarding the necessity of a deal to end the conflict in Gaza and secure the hostages' return in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Approximately one-third of the 101 Israeli and foreign hostages believed to be in Gaza are thought to have perished, with the status of the others uncertain. Israeli media reported Gallant's heated confrontation with Netanyahu during a cabinet meeting, warning of the dwindling time for a hostage exchange.
Netanyahu stated on Sunday that Israel is dedicated to concluding a hostage deal but accused Hamas of rejecting proposals coordinated with the United States. He highlighted the murder of six hostages shortly before their discovery in a tunnel under Rafah, southern Gaza, as evidence of Hamas's disinterest in ending hostilities.
Israel's security and defense officials have increasingly disagreed with Netanyahu over the ceasefire negotiations, which have shown minimal progress despite weeks of discussions in Qatar and Egypt.
