Israel must ensure the return of those held in capture hostages "as quickly as possible", "while they are alive", even at the cost of a painful compromise, said Yoav Galant, after he was removed from the post of Minister of Defense, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA.
"All must serve in the army and participate in the mission of protecting the state," he added in a televised speech. This refers to ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who were excluded from military service requirements until a Supreme Court decision in June.
Ultra-Orthodox make up nearly 14% of Israel's population, or about 1.3 million people. About 66,000 men of draft age are not called up for service because they devote themselves to studying the sacred texts.
"This is not only a social issue, this is the most central issue of our existence and our future", Gallant emphasized, recalling that since the beginning of the war against "Hamas" in Gaza and against "Hezbollah" in Lebanon, at least 780 soldiers were killed and at least 4,500 wounded, according to official figures.
The former defense minister also warned of "moral darkness" in the country after being fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, DPA notes. Gallant named three topics on which his views differed from those of the prime minister: his demand for a deal to release hostages held by Hamas; his call for a commission to investigate the October 7 attacks on Israel; and his opposition to a law that would exempt many religious extremists from military service.
He also warned that Israel faces many challenges in its fight against its archenemy Iran and its allies.
While Netanyahu called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant took a more pragmatic approach, saying military force had created the necessary conditions for at least a temporary diplomatic deal to repatriate hostages held by the extremist group, notes the Associated Press. Many of the families of the hostages, as well as tens of thousands of others who joined the anti-government protests, accuse the prime minister of obstructing a deal to hang on to power. His hardline partners are threatening to topple the government if he makes concessions to Hamas, risking early elections at a time when his popularity is low.
"The dismissal of Gallant against the backdrop of war is a manifestation of madness," Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said in Aix. "Netanyahu is selling Israel's security and Israeli soldiers for his disgraceful political survival.
The forum representing the families of the hostages said Gallant's firing was a "direct extension of efforts to scuttle the hostage deal". They called on the new defense minister, Israel Katz, to make an "express commitment" to end the war and reach an agreement to return their loved ones home.
Thousands of protesters gathered in central Tel Aviv today, blocking the city's main highway. The crowd, many holding blue and white Israeli flags and others blowing whistles and beating drums, gathered around a small bonfire in the middle of the road. About 1,000 people demonstrated in front of Netanyahu's home in Jerusalem. Protesters gathered and blocked roads in several other places in the country.
According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli strikes killed at least 30 people in Gaza yesterday. A building in which displaced families had taken shelter was also hit.
The Israeli military said it had targeted an arms depot from which a militant was operating, and that "numerous measures were taken to reduce the risk of harm to civilians.