Gallant insists ongoing military pressure will free hostages despite families’ rising doubts

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a press conference says only military pressure on Hamas will bring about a new hostage deal.

“If the fire stops, the fate of the hostages will be sealed for many years in the captivity of Hamas. Without military pressure, no one will talk to us. Only from a position of strength can the hostages be freed,” he says.

“We will reach [all of the hostages] and defeat Hamas; our enemies and our friends alike look at the results and test us,” he says.

Gallant makes the comment at a time of growing frustration with the government from the families of the hostages, who argue that this policy has proven ineffective, given that no hostages have been released in over a month, since Israel resumed its ground offensive after a seven-day truce that saw over 100 hostages released.