Ex-Israeli DM: 'We could've done more for the hostages'

Ex-Israeli DM: ‘We could’ve done more for the hostages’

Former Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, said in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 News that ‘the Israeli government did not do everything it could to free the hostages’ held in Gaza, adding that the ceasefire… pic.twitter.com/Pjg7po8Rsw

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) February 7, 2025

Dismissed Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, criticised the government for failing to secure the release of hostages at an earlier stage on better terms.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, he claimed that Israeli officials did not exhaust all available efforts to bring the hostages home.

When asked directly whether the government did everything possible to bring back the hostages, Gallant responded, “I don’t think so. We could have brought back more hostages earlier at a lower cost.”

Gallant further claimed that the government had the opportunity to negotiate the same deal it recently accepted, as early as April or July. According to him, this earlier version would not have included the release of 110 Palestinian detainees charged with multiple life sentences.

Moreover, Gallant blamed the delay in approving the deal to vetoes by Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir.

The former defence minister’s statements are likely to fuel criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, which is already facing intense public and political backlash over its handling of hostage negotiations and the ongoing security crisis.

Hundreds of Palestinians were set free by Israel in return for 18 captives, including five Thai workers, under the ceasefire deal that took effect on 19 January.

According to Israeli daily, Haaretz, Red Cross representatives were “angry” over the way Israel released the last batch of Palestinian prisoners last week as they were led out in shackles with their hands behind their heads.

Unlike the frail Palestinian detainees, the freed Israeli captives from Gaza appeared in good health, dressed neatly and were given gifts upon their release.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement halted Israel’s genocidal war that killed over 47,500 people and left the enclave in ruins. The Israeli onslaught on Gaza has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

READ: Hamas accuses Israel of ceasefire breaches ahead of next hostage-for-prisoner exchange