
The head of the ISA, Ronen Bar, emphasized during the cabinet meeting in Jerusalem the importance of approving the deal for the release of the hostages immediately, while warning of the risks of waiting.
"It is important to close the deal as soon as possible and not to postpone the cabinet meeting until tomorrow," Bar said.
"As long as there is agreement, there is no need to drag it out, there is no need to wait. The sooner we can bring the hostages home, the better."
Bar emphasized that any delay was a detriment to Israel. "Every minute that passes endangers them and gives Hamas more time to reorganize," he added.
Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi clarified during the cabinet meeting that the current agreement with Hamas includes the expansion of Israel's military presence on the Philadelphi Corridor. Halevi informed the cabinet that the agreement is based on a map of force deployment that was approved in August, and is expected to strengthen security in the area.
"According to the current outline, the scope of our forces on the Philadelphi corridor will not only not decrease, but will increase," said the Chief of Staff. "According to what was approved on the maps, we will have more forces on the corridor during the implementation of the outline than we have now before the implementation of the deal."