From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Gantz: Netanyahu wants to draw out first phase of ceasefire out of political interest
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to draw out the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza out of “political interest,” National Unity chairman Benny Gantz alleges, arguing that “extending the deal strengthens Hamas.”
In a video message recorded during a tour of the north, the former member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet insists that it is in Israel’s national interest “to get as many hostages as possible, as quickly as possible” and not in “trickles.”
This is both because the hostages remaining in Gaza are in danger and because “time is working in favor of Hamas, which is arming itself and rehabilitating itself militarily and politically,” he says, appealing to Netanyahu to “stop dragging it out.”
“Bringing everyone home will allow us to deal with Hamas without our hands tied,” he asserts.
According to Hebrew media reports, the prime minister wants to extend the current first phase of the deal beyond the designated 42 days, which is set to end on March 1, and secure the freedom of more hostages as part of phase one, including more hostages Israel now knows are in poor health.
The Times of Israel Community.