Israeli Defense Minister: Open to Possibility of Agreement with Hezbollah

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant confirmed that the Israeli army "is making progress in the fight and is surrounding Hamas positions in Jabalia and Shuja'iyya, where the elite brigades are located.” He stated, "We will dismantle the brigades that are fighting us, and that will be their fate, including those confronting us in Khan Yunis. We also demand that the International Red Cross visit all hostages to ascertain their fate." He noted that "the battle will take time, and we will achieve victory in it. The war will end when we achieve its objectives." He continued, "If we increase the pressure, there will be more proposals for new ceasefires, and we will study them. We are open to discussing all possibilities regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, but there will be no role for Hamas in that." Regarding white phosphorus, he said, "The army operates according to international law." Concerning the West Bank, he mentioned, "It is very important that the West Bank remains calm so we can complete our mission in Gaza." Regarding the northern front, he said, "Israel is open to the possibility of reaching an agreement with Hezbollah if it includes a safe area on the border and guarantees."