Gallant: Israel can ‘handle risks’ of hostage deal, ‘will know how’ to resume fighting

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

A handout photo shows Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meeting with soldiers in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah on July 23, 2024. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
A handout photo shows Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meeting with soldiers in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah on July 23, 2024. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

Amid ongoing hostage deal negotiations with Hamas, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says “as there are in military operations, there are risks in diplomatic moves as well” and that Israel “will know how to facilitate the moves and handle the risks.”

“We are creating conditions for what we wanted, the first thing, for the defeat of Hamas. The second thing… we are getting closer to a situation where it will be possible to reach a deal for the release of hostages,” Gallant says to troops in southern Gaza’s Rafah.

Gallant says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US is “very important… for all of us.”

He says that after a potential hostage deal and truce with Hamas, “we will know how to return to fighting.”

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