Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant charged that there was no need for the Israel Defense Forces to remain in Gaza, and that it is only Prime Minister Benjamin Netaynahu who wants it. He also charged that Netanyahu has sabotaged the conclusion of hostage deals with Hamas. According to Israel’s Channel 12, Gallant, whom Netanyahu fired on Nov. 5, made the comments on Nov. 7, in a meeting with Israeli hostages’ family members, held in Gaza.
“The head of the Shin Bet, the chief of staff, and I think the head of the Mossad, also agreed with me,” Gallant said, explaining that he told Netanyahu that “the conditions were ripe” for a deal in July, and that he and the prime minister have been in conflict about the parameters for a proposal ever since. “I can tell you what there was not: security considerations. The IDF chief and I said there was no security reason for remaining in the Philadelphi Corridor,” referring to the strip of land in Gaza that runs all along the border with Egypt, which Netanyahu has championed as one of the key strategic gains of the war.
