Report: Gallant Tells Hostage Families Israel’s Security Establishment Wants Deal With Hamas

Israeli media reported on Monday that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and told them that a deal with Hamas was possible and that it was supported by the Israeli security establishment.

“When a deal was not possible, I told you,” Gallant said, according to Israel’s Channel 12. “Now it is [possible], so I’m telling you: it’s closer than it has ever been. There is complete unanimity in the defense establishment — the IDF, the Shin Bet and the Mossad — that there is no insurmountable security obstacle to the deal from their point of view.”

Other recent reports have said that Israel’s top generals want a ceasefire deal and see it as the best way to secure the remaining hostages. But Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of his coalition government who have significant sway over him do not want a deal.

According to the Channel 12 report, Gallant continued: “The matter is not parked with us [in the defense establishment]. It is critical to move ahead with decisions in the near future. It’s important to finalize the processes in the coming days, before the prime minister’s trip to Washington or in the course of his visit. After that, it will be much more difficult and complicated.”

The hostage families reportedly asked for Gallant’s advice, and he said for them to try to schedule a meeting with Netanyahu before he leaves for Washington to address Congress later this month, which is scheduled for July 24. “You should arrange a meeting with the prime minister before he flies to the US. He’s the one who decides,” he said.

The Times of Israel reported last week that Hamas agreed to vague enough language that Israel could accept without actually committing to a permanent ceasefire. But during the delicate negotiations, Netanyahu has publicly reiterated his demand that Israel must be able to restart military operations and added new demands.