Israeli Defense Minister Gallant calls Netanyahu’s victory prospects absurd

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the Gaza conflict, which has been ongoing since Oct.7, according to Walla News.

The Israeli government remains embroiled in the ongoing Gaza crisis. Gallant met with members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee where he dismissed Netanyahu’s claims of achieving “absolute victory” in Gaza, calling them “complete nonsense.”

He also highlighted the risk of a potential war in Lebanon, noting that the current situation is markedly different from the war’s onset.

Gallant attributed the delay in finalizing a deal with Hamas for the return of Israeli prisoners in Gaza to Israel itself.

He emphasized Israel is at a “turning point” with two possible outcomes: agreement or war, and stated that both he and the security establishment favor the first option.

In response, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Press Office criticized Gallant, accusing him of using “anti-Israel rhetoric” and undermining the chances of a prisoner exchange agreement.