Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that there is a "possibility" of reaching a new agreement with the Islamist group Hamas on the release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip.
During a visit to the Tel Nof airbase south of Tel Aviv, Katz said Israel was increasing pressure on the group and that “there is a chance that this time we will reach a hostage deal.”
In more than a year of war, Hamas and Israel have only reached one agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in November last year, which served to free more than a hundred of the 251 kidnapped on October 7.
Since then, negotiations to achieve a new truce have been in vain, and Some former members of the Israeli government, such as opposition politician Benny Gantz or the former Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant (dismissed in early November), have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to prevent the agreement for political reasons.
Katz (who held the Foreign Ministry until November) said that "the most important thing" in the war in Gaza is to free the hostages, and that Israel will not end the fighting until it manages to bring back all the hostages.
However, the official made it clear that the main enemy is Iran, and that Israel's main objective is to prevent the Islamic Republic from developing nuclear weapons.
Katz also referred to the fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah, which on Wednesday ended more than a year of crossfire across the border with Lebanon, and said Israel would have “zero tolerance” for violations.
Since the truce came into effect, both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement, although the ceasefire continues and attacks have been significantly reduced.
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article.