While representatives of the families of hostages waited to meet with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, an argument developed between them and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, which were published this evening by Mako News.
At first the family members turned to the minister: “If you don’t go for a deal – you will bring back 136 bodies in coffins.” At this stage Smotrich responded: “I think differently from you. Only if we don’t stop the fighting will they come back. If we stop and don’t collapse Hamas – we will have 136,000 murdered.”
Smotrich’s office responded that “Minister Smotrich said to the families that he has responsibility for nine million Israeli citizens and that they must not in any case stop before eliminating Hamas.”
After that incident, Defense Minister Gallant met with the families of hostages, meeting with them in groups of 5-10 families, and sometimes seeing them more than once. He told them: “The operation in Khan Yunis is ongoing intensely. There are initial signs that reaching the most sensitive places for Hamas is advancing us in achieving the two overall goals in the war.”
Gallant’s office stated that “as he does every week, Defense Minister Gallant met this evening with the families of hostages in his office in the Kiryah. He gave them details on the latest updates from the operational, intelligence, and diplomatic efforts made to return the hostages to Israel.”