Israeli defense minister demands IDF agree to withdraw from key Gaza position

Israel must drop its refusal to withdraw from key strategic locations in Gaza in order to quickly reach a deal with Hamas for the release of remaining hostages, says Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (Likud) publicly chastised the Israeli security cabinet Sunday, demanding it nullify its decision last week that Israel must not yield control of key strategic areas inside the Gaza Strip, even as part of a hostage deal with the Hamas terror organization.

In a statement issued Sunday morning, Gallant responded to the failed attempt by IDF forces to rescue six Israeli hostages who had been located in a terror tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The bodies of the six hostages were returned to Israel over the weekend, after being recovered by IDF soldiers from Rafah.

The Israeli military has said it appears the captives were murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before IDF soldiers arrived in the tunnel.

Following the failed rescue, Gallant took the unusual step of issuing a public statement demanding the government compromise on one of its basic conditions for a hostage deal, in order to secure the return of the remaining living captives.

“The cabinet must gather immediately and reverse the decision made on Thursday,” Gallant said.

“It is too late for the hostages who were murdered in cold blood. We must bring back the hostages that are still being held by Hamas. The State of Israel will pursue all Hamas leaders and murderers.”

Gallant’s statement also defies Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated vows to maintain Israeli control over key strategic positions in Gaza, including the Philadelphi Route, which separates Gaza from Egypt, and the Netzarim Corridor, which runs in between north and south Gaza, breaking up the coastal enclave’s major metropolitan areas.

On Thursday, the security cabinet voted to back Netanyahu’s requirement that Israel retain control over the Philadelphi Route, even should a ceasefire deal be reached with Hamas.

According to a report by Yedioth Aharanoth, Gallant excoriated Netanyahu during Thursday’s deliberations, sarcastically telling the Israeli premier he can “make all the decisions and can also decide to kill all the abductees.”