Liberman calls to prevent rebuilding of Gaza until Ran Gvili’s body is returned

By Sam Sokol 29 December 2025, 2:23 pm

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Sam 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"

Yisrael Beytenu chair Avigdor Liberman addresses a weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, December 29, 2025. (Sam Sokol/The Times of Israel)

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman declares that Israel cannot allow the rebuilding and rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip until the return of the body of the final hostage still in the Strip, Ran Gvili.

Addressing reporters ahead of his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset, Liberman adds that the coastal enclave cannot be allowed to rebuild until Hamas disarms and Israel ensures that Turkey has no role in post-war Gaza.

“The most powerful lever Israel has against Hamas is the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip,” Liberman says, arguing that if Israel does not accomplish all three of these goals, it is “a shameful surrender” which condemns Israel to “another October 7.”