Israel’s Defense Minister Sees Window for Temporary Ceasefire with Hamas

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of reaching a temporary ceasefire agreement with Hamas, outlining a potential six-week pause in fighting that could also bring calm to the volatile border with Lebanon, The Associated Press reports.

Gallant said that the current circumstances present an opportunity for a “pause” in the ongoing conflict. This pause, he explained, would include the release of many of the hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza. However, Gallant emphasized that this would not be a permanent end to the conflict, raising concerns about the deal’s feasibility.

“Israel should achieve an agreement that will bring about a pause for six weeks and bring back hostages,” Gallant stated, adding that after this period, “we maintain the right to operate and achieve our goals – including the destruction of Hamas.”

Hamas has demanded a complete end to hostilities and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently insisted on maintaining an Israeli presence in a strategic corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt. Gallant, according to Israeli media reports, has suggested that Israel could withdraw from this corridor for the six-week truce period, a proposal that reportedly led to a heated exchange with Netanyahu during a recent cabinet meeting.

The United States, alongside mediators Egypt and Qatar, has been actively seeking to broker a ceasefire, with a three-phase plan currently under consideration. The first phase, encompassing a six-week pause, would see the release of some of the some 70 hostages held by Hamas. In return, Israel would free Palestinian prisoners, withdraw troops from Palestinian population centers, and facilitate the return of displaced Gazans and humanitarian aid.

However, White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby stated on Monday that Hamas has sought changes to the proposal, calling it the “main obstacle” to reaching a deal. Hamas, in turn, has rejected these allegations as “baseless” and accused the US of favoring Israel.

Gallant expressed skepticism about the second phase of the proposed plan, which would involve the release of remaining hostages and a complete cessation of fighting. He reiterated Israel’s commitment to its “war goals,” including the safe return of all hostages, the dismantling of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, and ensuring the group cannot pose a future threat to Israel.

The Defense Minister also accused Hamas of intransigence in the talks and called for increased international pressure on the group. Despite this, Gallant believes that the recent damage inflicted on Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon creates an opportunity for the initial phase of the deal.

He also suggested that a truce with Hamas could help reduce tensions with Hezbollah and enable displaced Israelis to return to their homes in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border. Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict, which began immediately after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, has led to daily cross-border exchanges of fire, raising concerns of a wider escalation.