"The more we deepen our operations, the closer we get to a realistic deal in order to return the hostages," Gallant said. He was speaking at a display of items seized from Hamas by the Intelligence Directorate's intelligence collection and technical spoils unit.
Addressing a press conference, IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the evidence indicated that over USD 150 million dollars were transferred from Iran to Hamas between the years 2014 to 2020.
An outreach mission of Israel's Ministry of the Diaspora and the Fight against Anti-Semitism in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of relatives of Israelis held hostage in Gaza and those murdered in the October 7 massacre.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday departed for a four-nation visit to the Middle East as part of continuing diplomatic efforts related to the war between Israel and Hamas.
In the last two months, soldiers from the 55th Brigade have dismantled 70 tunnel shafts, the Israel Defense Forces disclosed as the brigade was withdrawn from Gaza on Thursday.
This confirmation comes after weeks of speculation and follows reports in December suggesting the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were testing the method of seawater pumping into tunnels.
Hamas, along with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, issued a joint statement insisting that any agreement must include an end to the ongoing conflict and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that a short time ago, on Sunday night, an intelligence summit held in Europe to discuss the possibilities for a truce in Gaza that would see the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held there concluded.