Gallant tells hostage families no return of residents to northern Gaza until all captives freed

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tells family members of the hostages that Israel will not permit Palestinians to return to northern Gaza until all the hostages are released.

His comments come as negotiators are working toward a deal that will see Hamas release hostages in exchange for a truce and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas is reportedly demanding Israel allow those displaced by fighting in northern Gaza to return to their homes.

“We are working around the clock to push forward a framework that will allow the return of the hostages.,” Gallant says according to remarks provided by his office.

“As part of the talks, we are working to maintain pressure on Hamas. The position of the security establishment will be clear: the full return of the residents of the northern Gaza Strip will only take place after the return of all the hostages,” he says.

“The statement that I have repeated from day one, according to which we have no moral right to stop the fighting as long as we have a single hostage in Gaza, has not changed and will not change,” he says. “Even if we reach a framework that requires a temporary pause in the fighting, we will return to fighting to eliminate the Hamas organization and to return all the abductees.”