Gallant: Israel deploying more forces to Rafah, working to ‘create conditions’ to bring hostages home

Following a tour of the coast of the Gaza Strip, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israel is deploying additional forces to Rafah while working to “create the conditions for the return of the hostages.”

“We are strengthening our effort against Rafah. This operation will go on and increase, more forces on the ground, more forces from the air, and we will reach our goals — to deal a very hard blow to Hamas, to deprive it of its military capabilities, [and] to create the conditions to return the hostages to their homes,” he says aboard a Dvora-class patrol boat.

Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Amir Baram, Navy chief Vice Adm. David Sa’ar Salama, the minister’s military secretary, Brig. Gen. Guy Markizeno, and the commander of the Ashdod Naval Base, Cpt. Eitan Paz join Gallant on the tour.

The ministry says Gallant was briefed on “the operational and humanitarian efforts in the maritime arena.”