Ex-Defense Minister Gallant Admits Hostages Could Have Been Freed Sooner

Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Monday that hostages could have been released earlier, acknowledging that Nitzan Alon, head of the captivity and missing persons headquarters, was correct in his assessment. Gallant attributed the delay to the government's fear of collapse due to threats from ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, which he claimed prolonged the process of returning the hostages.

His remarks came as Israel marked three years since the October 7th massacre with state ceremonies. Earlier on Monday, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir issued a special order of the day to IDF soldiers and commanders. In it, Zamir addressed the military's failure to protect Israeli civilians on the morning of October 7th, while also highlighting the bravery of soldiers, security forces, and civilians who confronted the Hamas attack.

Zamir emphasized the IDF's duty to continue investigating the events of that day and implement the lessons learned. He pledged that the army would act to prevent Israel's enemies from strengthening and regaining the ability to surprise the country. He acknowledged the breach of borders and the brutal attack on Israeli civilians, stating, "The IDF failed in its supreme mission to protect the citizens of the State of Israel." Zamir also commemorated the victims, including civilians murdered in their homes, young people killed at a music festival, those kidnapped and killed in captivity, fallen soldiers and security personnel, and members of emergency response teams. He expressed solidarity with the wounded and bereaved families, stating that the memory of the fallen would serve as a constant reminder of their immense responsibility.