By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
What it is about:
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has proposed a strategic plan to the security cabinet advocating for a hostage-ceasefire deal. His proposal also highlights the critical need to facilitate the return of evacuated residents to northern Israel.
Why it matters:
The plan underscores Gallant’s dedication to both securing the release of Israeli hostages and resettling those displaced by the ongoing conflict. Repopulating the northern borders and solidifying Israel’s security on multiple fronts are pivotal for national stability and regional peace.
Details:
On Thursday, Gallant presented a meticulously crafted plan during a security cabinet meeting. The document emphasizes the detrimental impacts should a hostage-ceasefire agreement not be reached.
“Over the past 11 months, we have faced attacks from seven different fronts and responded effectively. In Gaza, we have defeated most of Hamas’s brigades and battalions, including their military leader, Mohammed Deif, along with numerous other terrorists,” Gallant detailed.
Gallant emphasized that ongoing military successes in Gaza have facilitated the safe return of many to homes in the Gaza Envelope and created conditions favorable for the release of hostages.
Israel’s skilled negotiation team, with professionals from the Mossad, IDF, and Shin Bet, is currently in Doha to discuss the hostage-ceasefire deal.
Gallant addressed the persistent tensions with groups such as Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, highlighting recent successful operations, including the elimination of Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff and neutralizing significant threats.
Repopulating the Northern Border:
Gallant stressed the urgency of returning evacuated residents to homes on northern Israel’s borders. Approximately 68,500 people remain evacuated according to the Knesset Research and Information Center.
“Our mission on the northern front is clear: to ensure the safe return of northern residents to their homes,” Gallant conveyed. He affirmed that this initiative aligns with, but does not detract from, the commitment to eliminating Hamas and securing the return of the abductees.
Gallant plans to present this adjustment proposal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Cabinet shortly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office later acknowledged that this objective has been a recurring goal.
This story was first published on jpost.com.