Former member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet, Benny Gantz, has accused Netanyahu of delaying progress on a deal to secure the release of hostages in Gaza. Gantz, leader of the National Unity party, claimed that Netanyahu is waiting for the current session of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, to end before taking action.
Gantz stated that an outline for the hostages' return, accepted in May, should be implemented promptly. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that a quarter of the hostages have died since the initial outline was proposed. Gantz stressed the moral obligation to return all hostages, both living and deceased, to their families.
Furthermore, Gantz alleged that the Israeli negotiating delegation has been left without instructions for over a week, adding to the delays in resolving the hostage situation. He criticized the influence of political considerations on Israel's security decisions, calling for immediate action to secure the hostages' release.