Katz says war won’t end in Gaza until all the hostages are released

By Emanuel Fabian

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19 January 2025, 3:33 pm

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

Defense Minister Israel Katz near the border with the Gaza Strip, January 19, 2025. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel will not end the war in the Gaza Strip until all the hostages held by Hamas are returned.

“We will not stop the war until everyone returns home,” he says during a visit to an army facility on the Gaza border where released hostages will receive initial treatment.

“I came to make sure that the IDF is prepared to protect the communities and soldiers against any attack… even during the ceasefire,” Katz says.

The defense minister also vows that the military will stay in a buffer zone along the Gaza border and “will respond strongly to any violation and threat.”