Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has stated a condition for a ceasefire in the Gaza sector to US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, according to Haaretz newspaper.
The minister emphasized that there will be no ceasefire in the Gaza sector until the hostages are returned.
Previously, it was reported that the Palestinian radical movement, Hamas, was willing to compromise on the issue of prisoner exchange with the Israeli side.
The situation in the Middle East has escalated after thousands of Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza sector on October 7th. More than two hundred hostages were captured.
On that day, Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israeli territory and declared the start of the “Flood of Al-Aqsa” operation. In response, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that the country was in a state of war.
The operation by the Israeli Defense Forces has been named “Iron Swords” and its goal is to destroy Hamas. The Israeli Air Force has carried out strikes on hundreds of Hamas targets in the Gaza sector, and the Israeli National Security Council has decided to halt the supply of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the sector.
Earlier, Russia speculated on the possible duration of the Israel-Hamas war.
