Visiting Gaza, Gallant says IDF troops won’t leave Strip until every hostage returned

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israeli forces will not leave the Gaza Strip until all of the hostages are returned to Israel, and any future negotiations with Hamas will be carried out amid the fighting.

Gallant’s remarks were made as the minister toured the Gaza Strip this morning — for the first time since the start of the war — meeting with commanders and soldiers. Gallant entered the Strip via the sea with the head of the Navy, Vice Adm. David Sa’ar Salama.

“Our ability to bring the first group of hostages comes from the pressure exerted by the military. As soon as the military pressure is on, they want a break. When you increase the pressure, they want another break. When you increase even more, they are ready to come with an offer, and when you increase even more, and they are ready to come with an offer that can be accepted, that’s the whole method,” Gallant says.

“We cannot leave the operation and the war in Gaza until we reach a situation where we bring all the hostages [back], because we have many more,” he says.

Gallant says the ceasefire will be short. “Any further negotiations will be under fire. Meaning, if they want to continue discussing the next [deal], it will be while bombs fall and the forces are fighting, that’s the basis.”

Gallant’s office says he toured the northern Gaza coast, and was briefed by commanders on the forces’ operations during the fighting and their security during the ceasefire.