Gal Hirsch Says Hamas Agreed to Hostage Deal Only Under Pressure: “When it had no choice”

Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for captives and missing persons, has rejected claims that the Israeli government deliberately sabotaged hostage release deals, calling the accusation “a complete lie” and describing a complex decision-making process shaped by military, diplomatic, and strategic realities.

“The sabotage narrative is a lie and a falsehood,” Hirsch said, addressing allegations that political considerations prevented agreements to free hostages held by Hamas. His remarks come as sustained public debate over Israel’s handling of hostage negotiations during the war circulates around the country.

Hirsch said decisions were taken within a structured process led by Benjamin Netanyahu, who he described as directly overseeing negotiations. “The prime minister is the head of the negotiating team. He listens to all of us for long hours deep into the night; he has patience of iron,” Hirsch said.

He emphasized that disagreement was inevitable in a democratic system but insisted that once decisions were made, the system had to act cohesively. “We are a democratic country. In the end a decision is made, and even if not everyone agrees with it, we have to act as one person,” he said.

Addressing operational questions, Hirsch confirmed that multiple military rescue operations were prepared during the war but ultimately canceled. “There were operations that were planned and ultimately not carried out. Even when forces were close and intelligence existed, decisions were made not to act when conditions were not sufficient for success.”

A central theme of Hirsch’s account was Hamas’s strategic mindset following the October 7 attack. He said the group quickly understood that the hostages could serve as long-term leverage. “Hamas planned ten years of tearing Israeli society apart and abusing the families,” Hirsch said, describing what he called a deliberate strategy to sustain prolonged negotiations.

Hirsch argued that Hamas paired this approach with a psychological warfare campaign that exploited internal pressure inside Israel. He said protest messaging and public slogans were studied and repurposed by the group. “The Hamas slogans, like ‘time is running out’ with the hourglass, were created here in Israel. They simply took copywriting elements created here and used them against us,” he said.

Explaining why Hamas agreed to the first hostage deal in November, Hirsch said the timing reflected battlefield realities rather than goodwill. The agreement, he said, came as Israeli forces were advancing into Gaza with significant momentum. “The first deal suited Hamas very much in order to stop us quickly,” Hirsch said, adding that the pause allowed the group to reposition commanders and relocate hostages. Once those objectives were met, he said, Hamas broke the agreement.

Hirsch stressed that no single lever was sufficient to secure releases. “What brings the hostages home is combined military pressure and diplomatic pressure,” he said, arguing that concessions alone were never enough. According to him, Hamas agreed to deals only when forced by circumstances, “when it had no choice, or when it served its own interests.”

Hirsch also pointed to external dynamics, including tensions with Washington during the war under the Biden administration. He said threats of restrictions on arms supplies created strategic vulnerabilities. “From my point of view, in the area connected to me, I was very agitated and very angry when there were threats of an embargo,” he said, adding that “a crack formed that Hamas exploited” to advance its goals.

Asked to reflect on the process in hindsight, Hirsch stopped short of claiming perfection. “I don’t think we were angels,” he said, adding that with the benefit of hindsight, “it’s possible we should have acted differently.” He maintained, however, that decisions were made professionally and without political manipulation.

Hirsch closed by describing the personal sense of duty with which he accepted the role shortly after being discharged from the hospital. When asked by the prime minister whether he could take on the mission, Hirsch said he replied simply: “Leave me now, here I am.”