Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant confirmed that the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, ongoing for over a month, will not cease until the mission is completed. The Israeli minister addressed White House envoy Brett McGurk, stating that Israel will not end its campaign in Gaza until Hamas is eliminated and the hostages held in the territory are returned home.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, Galant told McGurk, "The State of Israel will not stop its operations in Gaza until our forces complete their tasks of destroying Hamas and returning our hostages to their families," as reported by the "Times of Israel." The statement also indicated that Galant "discussed the status of the hostages in detail, exchanged intelligence information and details about the situation of the prisoners held by Hamas, as well as the efforts being made to return them."
McGurk is visiting Israel as part of a rapid tour of regional countries aimed at reaching a U.S.-brokered agreement to secure the release of approximately 240 people held in Gaza by Hamas. U.S. President Joe Biden announced yesterday that he believes an agreement can be reached for the release of the hostages held by Hamas.
