Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 19, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 19, 2024
In bid to pressure PM, Gallant said considering public announcement that hostage deal within reach
Relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza and supporters protest for their release to mark the 20th birthday of hostage Nimrod Cohen, outside the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, July 15, 2024. (Itai Ron/Flash90)
Channel 13 reports that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is considering making a public declaration that Israel is “within reach” of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement to try and add pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a deal.
Gallant believes that Hamas is interested in a deal, that the one on the table isn’t perfect but that the ground is ripe for an agreement, the network says.
In recent weeks, Netanyahu has made new demands regarding continued Israeli presence in the Philadelphi Corridor and the creation of a mechanism for preventing armed Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza that have slowed the talks, Arab and Israeli officials involved have told The Times of Israel.
