Israeli media reported Thursday that former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told family members of Israeli hostages that there’s “nothing left” for Israeli troops to do in Gaza and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was only keeping them in the Strip “out of a desire to stay there.”
Netanyahu fired Gallant on Tuesday, and according to The Times of Israel, Gallant’s conversation with the hostage families came just hours before his firing went into effect and former Foreign Minister Israel Katz officially replaced him.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, Gallant told the families that “conditions were ripe” for a hostage deal with Hamas back in July and that he tried to convince Netanyahu to reach an agreement. “The head of the Shin Bet, the chief of staff, and I think the head of the Mossad also agreed with me,” he said.
During negotiations in the summer, Netanyahu began demanding that Israel maintain control of the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphi Corridor. At the time, Israeli media reports and comments from officials made it clear that Netanyahu inserted the demand as a way to sabotage the chances of a deal.
“I can tell you what there was not, security considerations. The IDF chief and I said there was no security reason for remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor,” Gallant told the hostage families. “Netanyahu said that it was a diplomatic consideration, I’m telling you there was no diplomatic consideration.”
Gallant said Israel had no reason to keep soldiers in Gaza. “There’s nothing left in Gaza to do. The major achievements have been achieved,” he said. “I fear we are staying there just because there is a desire to stay there.”
The Times of Israel said Gallant appeared to be referring to elements of the Israeli government that want to establish Jewish settlements in Gaza. Multiple Israeli ministers and members of the Knesset recently attended a “resettle Gaza” conference and called for the expulsion of Palestinians and the building of settlements.
Israeli forces in northern Gaza are currently conducting an ethnic cleansing campaign known as the “general’s plan.” Haaretz reporters who were given access to Beit Lahia, one of the areas where the plan is being carried out, said not a single home was left in the city as Israeli forces are demolishing buildings so forcibly displaced Palestinian civilians have nowhere to return.
