Katz: Continuing war in uncontrolled Gaza territory would unnecessarily endanger hostages
Hostage families and supporters rally, calling for the return of the remaining 50 hostages in Hamas captivity, June 28, 2025. (photo credit: Adar Eyal)
This contradicts statements from other ministers who called for a complete victory over Gaza and against a partial deal.
Defense Minister Israel Katz openly acknowledged on Monday that continuing the war into the 25% portions of Gaza that Israel does not yet control would unnecessarily endanger the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
This is the new line that the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir is also taking in pushing to end the war.
Until now, the standard Netanyahu, Katz, and government line was always that more military pressure and attacks would always be helpful, and not harmful, to getting Hamas to return more hostages.
This is in direct contradiction to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s statements on the hostage deal. As recently as Saturday, he called for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip, saying that “The only path to decisive victory and the secure return of our hostages is the full conquest of the Gaza Strip, a complete halt to so-called ‘humanitarian aid,’ and the encouragement of emigration.”
Other ministers have made similar statements, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has called for a complete victory over Gaza, and who has advocated against a partial deal.
Defense Minister Israel Katz attends a Foreign Affairs and Defense committee discussion at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on January 22, 2025 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Tightening the rope around Hamas’s neck
“We need to continue tightening the rope around Hamas’s neck and force it into a complete surrender deal with all the hostages at once,” he wrote in late May.
Some family members of hostages have argued that every additional day of war puts their relatives at risk while calling for a ceasefire.
