Hanegbi reportedly told ministers he’s ‘not ready to give up on saving the hostages,’ opposed Gaza City takeover

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi arrives for a court hearing in the trial against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Jerusalem District Court, March 5, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi arrives for a court hearing in the trial against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the Jerusalem District Court, March 5, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi voiced opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to take over Gaza City last night, telling the security cabinet that he was “not ready to give up on saving the hostages,” according to quotes reported by Channel 12 news.

“I don’t understand how someone who saw the videos of [hostages] Evyatar [David] and Rom [Braslavski] and also all the others that were published before them can say: ‘everything or nothing.’ The significance of this is giving up on the chance to immediately save 10 hostages, because Hamas won’t adhere to this diktat,” he reportedly said.

“A ceasefire will allow us to try and reach an agreement on the remaining 10. I agree completely with the IDF chief of staff that controlling Gaza City will endanger the lives of the hostages; therefore, I oppose the prime minister’s proposal,” the report quotes Hanegbi as saying.

The report states that, along with Hanegbi, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Mossad Chief David Barnea opposed the prime minister’s proposal.

Defense Minister Israel Katz and Strategic Affairs Minister supported Netanyahu’s idea, Channel 12 says.

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