First Phase Completed, Israeli Defense Minister Katz Ensures Hamas Will No Longer POWER In Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Katz. (Elad Malka/Defense Ministry)

JAKARTA - Israeli Defense Minister Katz said the first phase of the ceasefire was "completed" and Israel was trying to bring back more hostages from Gaza.

"We have repatriated 25 hostages alive, including female soldiers. This did not happen in previous negotiations, where the amount discussed was 10 or 12. We have also brought back eight people who have died. We intend to bring them all back," he said at a conference. regional council head, reported The Times of Israel 27 February.

He stressed, "the most effective way to ensure this is for Hamas to know that the IDF is ready to return to war. That's the truth."

Defense Minister Katz said Israel did not agree to a ceasefire in Gaza due to lack of ammunition or military fatigue. "We agreed to a ceasefire for only one reason, to bring back the hostages, both the living and the dead. That is our top priority, our moral obligation, and our shared responsibility and we will continue to act accordingly," he said.

However, he stressed Hamas "will no longer control Gaza, both civilianly and militaryly. This will not happen because it is impossible."

He added that if Trump's plan to encourage Palestinian emigration is realized, "I will soon advance the establishment of voluntary immigration administration to allow those wishing to leave Gaza to do so through Ashdod Port or Ramon Airport."

As previously reported, four Israeli hostages were repatriated late Wednesday and have been identified by Israel, followed by the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners.

It was the last exchange of the first phase of a six-week ceasefire that came into force on January 19 in the war in Gaza.

Palestinian militant group Hamas said it was ready to start the second phase of the ceasefire negotiations, as the prisoner swap with hostages was completed in the first phase.

The repatriation of the hostages' bodies last night was a fruit from Egyptian mediation efforts, in exchange for the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners.

The Palestinian prisoners who were released last night included 445 men as well as 24 women and minors arrested in Gaza, as well as 151 prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli prisons.

The first phase of the ceasefire covered a total exchange of 33 Israeli hostages with about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from several positions in Gaza as well as the entry of aid.