Gallant: Exchange deal with Hamas could lead to peace with Saudi Arabia

Signing a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas could pave the way for peace with Saudi Arabia, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant has said.

After discussions with members of both the Senate and House in the US Congress, Gallant expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching a prisoner exchange deal. He pledged to do everything possible, both in the United States and Israel, to advance this. He emphasised that such an agreement is morally, ethically and nationally justified, and the state of Israel must uphold this commitment to the prisoners and their families.

He added: “If this happens, there is a chance for significant change in the Middle East through an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, mediated by the United States. We must move in this direction.”

Gallant is in the US in spite of the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity due to his management of the total siege and bombardment of Palestinian in Gaza, which Amnesty International declared a genocide earlier this week. The US has said it would not abide by the ICC ruling to arrest Israeli officials.

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