Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has emphasized the necessity of making “painful concessions” to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Speaking at a memorial event for victims of a Hamas attack last year, Gallant noted, “Not every objective can be achieved through military means alone; force is not the answer to everything.”
He acknowledged the complexities and unprecedented challenges of the ongoing war in Gaza, stating, “This year, we struck our enemy and created a new security reality around us, but the costs have been very high.” Gallant claimed that Israel has achieved “unprecedented victories” against its adversaries, asserting that Hamas no longer functions as a military entity in the south, while Hezbollah has suffered significant losses in the north.
His remarks come as Israeli negotiators prepare to resume talks in Qatar for a potential prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. Israel estimates that approximately 101 captives are still held by Hamas, some of whom may have died due to Israeli airstrikes.
Despite mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement has not been reached, primarily due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to halt military operations. The ongoing offensive has resulted in significant casualties, with nearly 43,000 reported dead, mostly women and children, and over 100,000 injured. The conflict has also led to widespread displacement and severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the region.
