Gantz, who served as an independent minister in Israel's wartime cabinet, said Israel would launch a ground offensive in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas released the hostages still held before Ramadan in March.
Speaking to American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem on Sunday (February 18), Gantz said: "For those who say that the price is too high, let me be very clear that Hamas has a choice, they can surrender and release the hostages." In this way, the inhabitants of Gaza can celebrate the holy holiday of Ramadan. ”
Ramadan for Muslims will start in mid-March and last for a month.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas's demands for a ceasefire, calling them "wishful thinking" and leading to a halt in negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and releasing the hostages.
Gantz, who is the leader of Israel's National Unity Party, promised that the Israeli military would coordinate with the United States and Egypt to assist in the evacuation of civilians in Rafah to minimize the number of people**. An estimated 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah, on the border with Egypt in the Gaza Strip.
Gantz said Israel will continue to fight until its goals are achieved, including eliminating the threat from Hamas and Allah in Lebanon, bringing home the remaining 130 or so hostages, and freeing the Gaza Strip entirely from Hamas control.
He also told American Jewish leaders that he opposes unilateral recognition of the State of Palestine, which is no longer the way to achieve stability and peace in the region after the Israelis were confronted by Hamas on October 7 last year.
According to recent surveys, Israeli citizens believe that Gantz is the most suitable candidate for Israel's next prime minister, and his National Unity Party is far ahead of Netanyahu's Likud party in the polls. Gantz was previously Israel's defense minister.
Netanyahu's office issued a statement on February 18 saying that Israel rejects "international directives" on a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue and continues to oppose unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state.