Halevi: Reaching hostage deal is of utmost importance, but will only come via military pressure

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

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi meets troops in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, April 3, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi meets troops in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, April 3, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

Speaking to officers in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis earlier today, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says reaching a hostage deal with Hamas is a task of “utmost” importance, but that it will only come from military pressure on the terror group.

“We are pressing to deepen the achievement, and we are also pressing to try to bring about a shift in the negotiations, to bring about an agreement on the release of hostages. This is a task of utmost [importance],” Halevi says.

“It will only come from stronger pressure and we will press harder, however [much is] necessary. Another battalion being dismantled, another commander killed, another infrastructure destroyed, this is the way to exert pressure to eventually release the hostages,” he says.

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