Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defense Minister, made a bold move by arriving in the Gaza Strip via sea on the second day of the ceasefire between his army and Hamas.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense refrained from releasing any images of Gallant on the boat or the beach where he disembarked. Instead, they opted to share a photograph of "Gallant" alongside several other officers and soldiers.
In the photograph, Gallant can be seen donning a helmet and a bulletproof vest.
During his statements from Gaza, he emphasized that the Israeli forces will remain in Gaza until all hostages are safely returned to Israel.
He added, "any negotiation will be held under fire."
According to "The Times of Israel," Gallant made the declaration this morning while visiting Gaza, marking his first visit since the Israeli war on Gaza began on October 7. The report states that Gallant arrived in Gaza by sea alongside Vice Admiral David Saar Salama, who leads the Israeli naval forces.
The Israeli Defense Minister has expressed his belief that the recent release of Israeli hostages by Hamas was a direct result of the army's pressure. According to him, when the military pressure intensifies, Hamas will inevitably seek a break, only to require another one when the pressure increases further. He emphasized that it is the Israeli pressure that compels Hamas to make concessions.
Furthermore, he emphasized that any future negotiations will be conducted amidst ongoing conflict. In other words, if Hamas wishes to pursue further negotiations for a second deal, these negotiations will occur while bombs are falling and forces are engaged in combat. This indicates that the ceasefire is expected to be short-lived.
