Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister Benny Gantz made statements this evening (Tuesday) at the beginning of the cabinet meeting to approve the hostage deal. In his words, Netanyahu pledged that the war will continue after the ceasefire, until all the abductees are returned.
"This meeting is intended to discuss the return of our abductees, but I would like to start with something that should be self-evident: there is nonsense out there as if after the truce for the return of our abductees we will stop the war," Netanyahu said. "I would like to make it clear: we are at war, and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals - eliminate Hamas, return all the abductees and ensure that there will be no element in Gaza that threatens Israel."
"Yesterday, together with the members of the War Cabinet, I met with the families of the abductees. I listened to their plight, they tearfully described the nightmare they are in. I told them that the return of our abductees is a sacred and supreme task, and I am obligated to it along with my friends. As Maimonides said, there is no greater mitzvah than freeing hostages. We will not let up until we get everyone back.
"There are phases in a war, and there are also phases in the return of the abducted - but we will not let up until we achieve complete victory and until we return everyone. This is the sacred duty of all of us," Netanyahu clarified. "I spoke with President Joe Biden and asked for his guarantee to improve the outline that will be presented, and it was indeed improved, when it includes more abductees and less prices.
"We face a difficult decision tonight, but it is the right decision," Netanyahu clarified in conclusion. "All the security forces fully support it, and made it clear that the security of our forces will be guaranteed during the days of the ceasefire and that the intelligence effort will be maintained during these days. The war effort will not be harmed, but on the contrary - the ceasefire will allow the IDF to prepare for the next days of fighting."
Gantz: "The outline is difficult and painful, but correct"
Gantz added that "the attack that the IDF carried out together with all the security forces is the basis for the blueprint for the release of hostages that was discussed today and will be presented here, and no less important than that is the basis for the continuation of the necessary operational efforts, in the southern arena and possibly in other arenas."
According to him, "This outline is part of an overall concept of returning all the abducted and missing from this campaign, and from the previous campaigns. Behind every character there is a name and there is a family. This outline is difficult and painful from a human perspective, but it is also a correct outline, because it takes the maximum possible and realizes it and I think it will form the basis for the continuation. What is in this decision is a possible decision and this is how I think it should be understood, it is a possible decision within the goals of the war that allows us, morally and operationally, to continue the development of the campaign."
"There is a moment in life, about which our sages said what is doubtful doesn't cancel out what is certain, and the doubt can be many, many things that we may come to in the future," Gantz concluded. "What is certain is here and now, and we need to bring them home - and then we need to continue fighting to bring more home, that's our mission."
Gallant: "Without the military pressure there will be no chance of bringing back the next groups"
The Minister of Defense stated that "we are faced with making important decisions in the coming hours and days. What led to the result we hope to reach in the near future is the determined, professional and precise action of the IDF forces. As a result of the decision we made a month ago to intensify the maneuver, enter the territory and increase the pressure on Hamas - there is a chance to mature an outline that will lead to the release of hostages, and this is extremely important."
Gallant clarified that "the release of abductees is first of all a matter of values and morals, a commitment between the government and the citizens. I can say that all the members of the cabinet, the General Staff, the Shin Bet, the Mossad and everyone who deals with the issue invests all their time in it day and night. There are fruits for the efforts of the IDF soldiers who put themselves at risk for the abductees."
"For me, the release of abductees is a value, and each of us who looks at the pictures and sees the videos and the people, thinks about the children, the soldiers and the Holocaust survivors - understands how important this thing is," he noted. "At the same time, without the pressure and its continuation, there will be no chance of bringing back the following groups as well. Therefore, at my request and at the request of the defense establishment, an unequivocal statement was included in the government's decision, that immediately after we have exhausted this phase, the IDF operation will continue in full force. First, in order to win and defeat the Hamas, and secondly in order to create the appropriate threshold and bring back the additional abductees next time."