Coalition MK: ‘Not sure’ returning all Gaza hostages is possible

MK Zvi Sukkot of the coalition’s Religious Zionism Party says he’s doubtful Israel can return all 132 hostages being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

“I wish it were possible to return all the hostages — I’m not sure that’s possible,” Sukkot tells Radio 103FM, adding: “We need to do everything to return them home, but not anything that will critically harm national security.”

The far-right Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties have been arguing in favor of intensifying military operations in Gaza to pressure Hamas to release the hostages. In now-moribund negotiations, the terror group consistently demanded the end of the war, plus the release of many hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners, in what Israel says is a nonstarter.

“We think the way to return [the hostages] is when Hamas understands it doesn’t have a choice but to return them,” Sukkot says, adding that currently, Hamas is banking on international pressure hindering Israel’s operations, and therefore “has no reason to make concessions to Israel.”