The Israeli Minister of Defense visits Rafah amid controversy.

The Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Gallant, recently visited the devastated city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, where he justified the offensive carried out by Israel as an attempt to destroy Hamas, rescue hostages, and maintain freedom of action in the region. Accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Staff, General Amir Baram, Gallant emphasized the importance of the operations in Rafah, despite the recent order from the International Court of Justice to halt the offensive in Palestinian territory. During his visit, Gallant also responded to a viral video in which a soldier called for his resignation or for soldiers to disobey orders if a Palestinian authority was to govern Gaza after the offensive. The minister stated that in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) there is only one authority, which is that of the commander, thus reaffirming the role of the Chief of Staff and emphasizing that the law will be upheld. Regarding the hostages, Gallant assured that enormous efforts are being made for their rescue, both through kinetic operations and through agreements. Israel confirmed that it will resume ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, in collaboration with the United States and Qatar, with the aim of achieving an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Izzat Al Risheq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, stated that a permanent ceasefire throughout the Gaza Strip is essential to progress in negotiations. Currently, there are 121 captives in the enclave, out of the 253 abducted in October, with discrepancies in the death toll figures between Israel and Hamas. Since the start of the war, only a one-week ceasefire agreement was reached in November, which allowed for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Throughout the months, releases of hostages have been carried out by both sides, as well as rescue operations by the Israeli Army, with unfortunate incidents such as the mistaken killing of hostages. The situation in Rafah and Gaza in general remains delicate, with hope that ceasefire negotiations can lead to significant progress and bring an end to the suffering of civilians trapped in the conflict.