We have already achieved all we need to in Gaza - Gallant

Israel's ousted defence minister, Yoav Gallant, has reportedly said the army had achieved all its objectives in Gaza and that Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected a hostages-for-peace deal against the advice of his own security establishment.

- Julian Borger

Gallant was speaking to hostages' families yesterday, two days after being sacked by Netanyahu, and reports of his remarks quickly surfaced in Israeli media.

"There's nothing left in Gaza to do. The major achievements have been achieved," Channel 12 news quoted him as saying. "I fear we are staying there just because there is a desire to be there."

He reportedly told the families that the idea that Israel must remain in Gaza to create stability was "an inappropriate idea to risk soldiers' lives over".

Gallant is said to have told the families that Netanyahu was the only person who could decide on whether to make a deal involving the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas in return for the freeing of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons and an initially temporary ceasefire.