[MIDDLE EAST] Yoav Gallant, Israel's deposed defense minister, allegedly stated that the army had completed all of its objectives in Gaza and that Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a hostages-for-peace agreement against the advise of his own security staff.
Gallant was speaking to captive families on Thursday, two days after being fired by Netanyahu, and rumors of his comments soon circulated in Israeli media.
"There is nothing left to do in Gaza." "The major achievements have been achieved," he told Channel 12 News. "I fear we are staying there just because there is a desire to be there."
The alleged statements by Gallant have sent shockwaves through Israeli political circles and the international community. Many are questioning the motivations behind the continued military presence in Gaza, given the former defense minister's assertion that the army's objectives have been met. This revelation has reignited debates about the true goals of the ongoing conflict and the potential for a peaceful resolution.
He allegedly told the families that the concept of Israel being in Gaza to promote stability was "an inappropriate idea to risk soldiers' lives over".
Haaretz claimed, citing a person acquainted with the meeting, that Gallant stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had fulfilled all of its objectives in Gaza. According to the Israeli daily, the prime minister's concerns for a hostage swap "are neither military nor political".
Gallant is reported to have told the families that Netanyahu was the only one who could determine whether to reach a deal with Hamas including the release of Israeli captives in exchange for the release of Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons and an initial truce.
The implications of Gallant's reported comments extend beyond the immediate conflict, potentially impacting regional dynamics and international diplomacy. Analysts suggest that if the IDF has indeed achieved its objectives in Gaza, continued military operations could be seen as disproportionate by the international community. This could lead to increased pressure on Israel to pursue diplomatic solutions and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Biden administration has been attempting to negotiate such an agreement since May, when the US president released a design for a phased accord, saying it had been agreed by the Netanyahu government, but the Israeli prime minister has distanced himself from its provisions.
He subsequently reached an arrangement based on keeping an IDF presence in the Philadelphi corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border, which Hamas found untenable. US officials started to regard Netanyahu as at least as significant a threat to peace as Hamas.
Gallant allegedly told the captive family that there was no military rationale for hanging onto the tract of land.
"The IDF commander and I said there was no security reason for remaining in the Philadelphi corridor," he told Channel 12. "Netanyahu said that it was a diplomatic consideration; I'm telling you there was no diplomatic consideration."
The discord between Netanyahu and his former defense minister highlights the complex internal dynamics within the Israeli government. Gallant's dismissal and subsequent revelations have exposed deep-seated disagreements over military strategy and diplomatic approaches. This internal conflict could potentially weaken Israel's negotiating position and complicate efforts to achieve a lasting peace in the region.
Gallant's resignation from the coalition government eliminates Netanyahu's final significant challenger and relative moderate from a hard-right-dominated cabinet. On Thursday, the Knesset passed a bill introduced by a member of Netanyahu's Likud party that would allow the deportation of close relatives of anybody convicted of terrorism, even if the deportee was an Israeli citizen.
Although it is not defined in the bill's wording, it is commonly understood that the new rule is meant to apply only to Palestinian Israeli citizens, not families of convicted Jewish terrorists.
Gallant's words on Thursday are politically explosive in Israel, where the relatives of the remaining hostages held in Gaza, their supporters, and the Israeli opposition have all accused Netanyahu of prolonging the battle in Gaza to avoid a new election and the prospect of losing power.
The controversy surrounding Gallant's statements has also reignited discussions about the role of public opinion in shaping Israel's military and diplomatic strategies. With growing calls for a resolution to the conflict and the safe return of hostages, Netanyahu's government faces increasing pressure to justify its continued military operations in Gaza. The coming weeks may see a shift in public sentiment and potentially influence the direction of Israel's policies in the region.
The absence of a ceasefire in Gaza has also extended the battle in Lebanon, where the Shia organization Hezbollah has promised to continue attacking Israel as long as Palestinians are bombarded in Gaza.
According to Lebanon's civil defense department, 30 persons were murdered in an Israeli attack on an apartment complex in Barja, Bekaa valley, on Wednesday. The IDF reported that 60 Hezbollah militants were killed within 24 hours. According to Lebanese news media, two drones in the area targeted moving automobiles.
Gaza's health officials reported 27 deaths on Thursday morning, the most of which occurred in northern Gaza, where the IDF has ordered people to flee.
More than 43,000 Palestinians have been murdered in Gaza during the previous 13 months of Israeli shelling, according to figures from Hamas-run health officials, which are widely regarded as trustworthy by the UN and other relief groups.
Over the same time span, more than 3,000 people have been murdered in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, with the great majority dying in the last six weeks.
As the conflict continues to escalate and spread beyond Gaza, concerns are growing about the long-term consequences for regional stability. The involvement of Hezbollah and the spillover into Lebanon underscore the potential for a wider conflagration in the Middle East. International mediators are redoubling their efforts to broker a ceasefire, recognizing the urgent need to prevent further loss of life and address the mounting humanitarian crisis in the affected areas.
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