Bitter Dispute Erupts in Israeli Security Cabinet Over Gaza Hostage Deal

An argument broke out between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a security cabinet meeting, CNN reports, citing Israeli media reports.

The dispute centered on the conditions for a potential hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza, specifically the deployment of Israeli troops along the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic border area between Gaza and Egypt.

 Netanyahu reportedly presented maps advocating for the continued presence of Israeli troops in the corridor during the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement. He argued that this would prevent Hamas from resuming arms smuggling through tunnels beneath the corridor.

Gallant, however, vehemently disagreed, asserting that Hamas would not accept this condition, jeopardizing the release of hostages and a potential agreement. He also accused Netanyahu of imposing these maps on Israeli negotiators in Cairo, claiming that he was running the negotiations unilaterally.

“The significance of this is that Hamas won’t agree to it, so there won’t be an agreement and there won’t be any hostages released,” Gallant reportedly stated. He added, “You imposed these maps on them.”

Further tension arose when Gallant received support from Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi, who argued that Israeli forces could withdraw from the corridor after a six-week ceasefire, stating that there were “enough constraints for negotiations, there’s no need to add another one.”

The heated exchange escalated when Gallant allegedly declared, “the prime minister can indeed make all the decisions, and he can also decide to kill all the hostages,” provoking rebukes from other ministers. He continued, “30 lives are at stake.”

Despite the intense disagreement, the cabinet ultimately voted in favor of Netanyahu’s maps, with Gallant being the sole dissenter. Itamar Ben Gvir, the right-wing National Security Minister, abstained from the vote, reportedly opposing any gradual decrease in the number of soldiers in the corridor.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum responded to the media reports with a statement expressing deep concern, saying that the details of the dispute “should cause every Israeli citizen to lose sleep.”

This heated exchange comes as violence continues to escalate in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.