Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter accuses Hamas of “starting with deceptive tricks” in demanding that the IDF withdraw to enable it to locate living hostages in areas where the IDF is present, in an apparent reference to comments by senior Hamas officials about the terror group’s ability to find and release hostages under current conditions.
Dichter, who serves as a member of the key decision-making Security Cabinet body, asserts that none of the living hostages are located in the areas that the IDF controls.
“The immediate demand dictated also by President Trump’s comments needs to be the return of all 20 living hostages within 72 hours as a first step, which will dictate the continuation of the implementation of the stages of the agreement, Dichter posts on X.
“Without this, the agreement cannot advance and combat needs to continue with full force,” he insists.
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