Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told senior officers in closed discussions that securing a hostage deal with Hamas would not only be a moral obligation but could also enable Israel to shift greater military focus toward the Iranian threat, Israeli broadcaster N12 reported on Friday.
Zamir said the release of hostages would allow the military to redirect attention to Iran, particularly in light of ongoing nuclear talks and contingency planning if diplomacy fails, according to two unnamed sources cited in the report.
The comments come as Hamas reviews Israel’s latest response to a US-backed proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters on Friday that while the group is examining the reply thoroughly, it "fails to meet any of the Palestinian just and legitimate demands."
