IDF chief said to tell captive families he’s pushing for hostage-ceasefire deal

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met with the families of seven hostages, telling them he was pushing the government to reach a ceasefire deal that would see them freed, Channel 12 reports.

The meeting came as the military pushes ahead with an offensive to capture Gaza City, a move the hostage families have decried, saying it endangers the captives. Zamir is also widely reported to have told the government he opposed the plan.

“According to Channel 12, the families told Zamir that they would hold him responsible if the hostages were harmed. However, at the same time, they also said that they were relying only on him to secure their freedom, noting that the government had rejected Zamir’s recommendations.

Zamir, meanwhile, told them that he was responsible for the actions of the IDF in Gaza and was always keeping the hostages in mind.

“I authorized this operation myself and the head of the Southern Command is carrying it out responsibly,” the report quotes Zamir as saying. “I’m the one who authorizes any advances.”

Zamir is also quoted as saying that he supports a hostage-ceasefire deal even after launching the offensive.

“I am in favor of an agreement, I’m pushing for an agreement, and I will continue to push to bring about an agreement,” he tells them.