Gallant to Visit Washington for Talks on Hostage Deal

By Yoni Weiss

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is set to travel to Washington D.C. on Sunday afternoon at the invitation of the Biden administration. This visit occurs amidst crucial political, military, and security deliberations concerning a possible hostage-prisoner exchange agreement.

During his time in Washington, Gallant is scheduled to meet with prominent figures including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, CIA Director Bill Burns, and Special Envoy for Lebanon Amos Hochstein. Additionally, he will engage in discussions with representatives from AIPAC and members of Congress.

Accompanying Gallant on this visit is Eyal Zamir, Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, who will continue negotiations with American officials. Dror Shalom, Chief of the Defense Staff, and Col. Elad Goren, responsible for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, will also be present to participate in talks regarding operations in the region.

Among the topics to be addressed are plans for Rafah and the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Gallant will stress Israel’s commitment to increasing assistance to Gaza and emphasize the importance of ongoing transfers of American weaponry to Israel, despite rumors of a potential halt.

Furthermore, discussions will focus on efforts to secure the release of captives, as well as plans for the post-conflict scenario in the Gaza Strip. Gallant will present his proposal for a gradual transfer of control to local Palestinian forces and address concerns about humanitarian aid, particularly regarding the evacuation plan for the Gazan population in Rafah.

Gallant will also present data showcasing a significant increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. He will counter claims of hunger in the region by citing Israel’s calorie measurement standards, demonstrating that each Gazan citizen receives an average of 1,600 calories per day, even if only half of the aid reaches the residents.

Additionally, Gallant plans to discuss operational data indicating no civilian casualties resulting from recent actions at al-Shifa hospital, as well as coordination with the U.S. on establishing barriers between Gaza and Egypt.

Regarding Lebanon, Gallant will emphasize the importance of returning northern residents and express a preference for an agreement enabling troop withdrawals, akin to Resolution 1701, contingent upon Lebanon’s confrontation of Hezbollah. He will underscore the necessity of continued efforts to counter Iran’s support for regional terrorism through proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as Iran’s nuclear ambitions.