A reference from the Israeli Defense Minister to “the possibility of reaching an agreement to rescue the prisoners”

According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Galant met with the families of the prisoners.

“In this war, law enforcement authorities are only interested in two things: the defeat of Hamas and the return of the prisoners.” Gallant said they were determined to rescue the prisoners by any means possible, and that could be through an agreement or an operation.

Galant pointed out that he has known Hamas for many years and knows that they cannot fight it except through military pressure on it. He said: “We do not have a timetable for war. We will continue until the prisoners are released.” He said.

With this statement, Galant spoke about the possibility of reaching an agreement to release prisoners held by Hamas for the first time.

Israeli forces in the besieged Gaza Strip

The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, carried out a comprehensive attack on the morning of October 7, under the pretext of “responding to the Israeli occupation and its violations,” and captured many Israelis and took them to Gaza.

The Israeli army stated that there were about 240 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, where it continued its intense attacks.

The Tel Aviv government had strongly opposed the mutual offer to release all prisoners and detainees and a humanitarian ceasefire with Hamas, which was widely discussed in Israel. The Israeli government has also rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israeli prisoners are being held.

The Tel Aviv government, which announced that it may accept a humanitarian truce for the conflict on the condition that Israeli prisoners are released, continues its intense bombing of the Gaza Strip.

The Al-Qassam Brigades announced that about 60 prisoners it was in possession of were killed in the intense bombing by the Israeli army.

Various groups in Israel, especially some relatives of prisoners, support the proposal that the two sides mutually release all prisoners and detainees.