Against the backdrop of a summit in Qatar aimed at initiating negotiations for a hostage exchange deal, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Brigadier General Herzi Halevi delivered remarks at a ceremony in Gallit this evening (Wednesday).
Gallant asserted, "It is our duty to bring the abducted individuals back home. This is a fundamental moral imperative and a declared objective of war. The resolute actions of our security apparatus have set the stage for their return. We now face a brief window of opportunity to fulfill our moral obligation to bring them home."
Gallant continued, "The conditions that will emerge from this deal will promote our national and security interests. As for the risks involved, the IDF and our security forces are prepared to overcome them. In conjunction with efforts to defeat Hamas, it is appropriate, right, and necessary to pursue this agreement." Halevi also addressed the Qatar negotiations, stating, "Beyond its immediate importance in securing lives, the agreement to return the abducted embodies the foundational values essential for a model society and a life worth living."
Meanwhile, in anticipation of the IDF's report on the Bari incident scheduled for publication tomorrow, the Chief of Staff described the investigation as "extremely challenging." He acknowledged, "During Simchat Torah, we failed in our paramount duty to provide security."
Halevi continued "We are conducting a thorough investigation to learn and improve, aiming to restore public confidence in the IDF, which is the bedrock of our strength. Education is our future; it empowers Israeli society's development in science, infrastructure, economy, society, and health, and sustains our existence here, outnumbered yet resilient. Thus, the IDF's mission from its inception has been not only to defend and fight but also to build a nation, a state, and a cohesive society, to absorb immigrants, and to educate and train."