Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at a meeting with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on March 26, 2024. (Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via AFP)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told newly drafted soldiers Monday that he believes Israel to be "at an opportune moment" for reaching a hostage exchange deal with Hamas, a day after the military pulled all but one brigade from Khan Younis, Gaza's biggest southern city.
According to reports from Israeli media and AFP. Gallant said the deal will require "difficult decisions," but that Israel has "the utmost obligation to bring our captives back home.”
Over the last couple weeks, Israel has been experiencing the largest protests by Israelis since the war began. Tens of thousands of people have filled the streets, demanding hostages be brought home and Netanyahu's government step down.
"I believe we are at an opportune moment," Gallant said. "But there’s another side that must agree to it."
Earlier on Monday, an Egyptian source told al-Qahera News that "significant progress" was being made toward reaching a deal. Just a couple hours later, a Hamas official told Reuters that "no progress" had been made, as he departed Cairo. Delegations are returning to Cairo in two days' time, al-Qahera reported, to "finalize the terms of the agreement."
After an agreement is reached, Gallant said, the army would resume its war on Gaza.
"We will be ready to pay the price in order to get the hostages back, and then return to fighting."