On video: Gallant: "Hamas is looking for a replacement for Sinwar"/ Defense Minister Communications
Defense Minister Yoav Galant met today (Monday) in Kirya with families of abductees held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The member of the War Cabinet spoke with the families of the kidnapped soldiers, and answered their questions.
In addition, he explained to the families about the various efforts being made to return them, chief among them the political effort to promote an outline that would allow the return of abductees.
Gallant made it clear that they would not leave hostages behind - even in the event of a ceasefire.
"We are working around the clock to promote an outline that will allow the return of the abductees," the defense minister told the families of the abductees.
"As part of the talks, we are working to maintain levers of pressure on Hamas. The position of the security establishment will be clear: the full return of the residents of the northern Gaza Strip will only take place after the return of all the abductees."
"We have no moral right to stop the fighting as long as we have one hostage in Gaza."
Defense Minister Yoav Galant/Ministry of Defense
"The statement I repeat from day one, according to which we have no moral right to stop the fighting as long as we have one hostage in Gaza, has not changed and will not change," he said.
"Even if we reach an outline that requires a temporary pause in the fighting, we will return to fighting to eliminate the Hamas organization and to return all the abductees."
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