Gallant Proposes Expanding Northern War Goals, Still Seeks Deal

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has shared a document with the security cabinet, strongly supporting a hostage-ceasefire agreement and proposing an additional war objective: the return of evacuees to their homes in northern Israel.

“For the past 11 months, we have dealt with attacks from seven different fronts and responded effectively. In Gaza, we have successfully defeated the majority of Hamas’ brigades and battalions, including their military leader Mohammad Deif, along with many other terrorists,” Gallant said, as reported by Israeli media.

He highlighted that the Israeli army’s (IDF) military success in Gaza has allowed many residents to return to their homes in the Gaza border communities. This success has also created favorable conditions for the return of a significant number of abductees and is paving the way for the release of more hostages.

Since Wednesday, Israel’s negotiation team — which includes representatives from Mossad, the Israeli army, and internal security agency Shin Bet — has been in Doha to discuss the hostage-ceasefire deal.

“We are currently also dealing with other threats, including those from Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. A month ago, the IDF eliminated Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff, al-Hajj Mohsin (Fouad Shukur). Earlier this week, we thwarted a major attack threat against residents in the north and center,” Gallant added, referring to Israel’s claim of having foiled Hezbollah’s retaliatory attack over Shukur’s assassination, a claim that Hezbollah has denied.

Gallant stressed the importance of returning evacuated residents to their homes along Israel’s northern borders. According to the Israeli parliament’s Research and Information Center, around 68,500 Israelis are still evacuated.

“Our mission on the northern front is clear: to ensure the safe return of northern residents to their homes. Achieving this will require expanding our war objectives to include the secure return of these residents,” Gallant stated.

He assured that this adjustment would not compromise Israel’s commitment to eliminating Hamas and securing the return of abductees. “Once finalized, we will present this proposal to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet,” Gallant added.

The Prime Minister’s Office responded shortly after, noting that this goal “goes without saying,” and that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already stated this many times in recent months.”

Gallant’s document also frames Israel as being at a “strategic crossroads.”

If Israel proceeds with and concludes a ceasefire-hostage deal, it would not only facilitate the return of the hostages but also enable a diplomatic solution to ease tensions with Hezbollah on the northern border and prevent a regional conflict, the document suggests.

The document also argues that such a deal would likely deter Iran from pursuing revenge for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.

Conversely, Gallant’s document reportedly warns that failing to reach a deal would leave the hostages in captivity and expose Israel to the risk of an “imminent escalation into a multi-front war.”