Israel Hostages Coordinator Gal Hirsch details Gaza negotiations and operational challenges

Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons, told i24NEWS's sister Hebrew Channel in an exclusive interview that despite fears during the last two and a half years, he remained confident that “we will bring everyone back” from Hamas captivity. Hirsch highlighted the extensive intelligence and operational efforts carried out to secure the release of hostages.

On Sunday, hostage survivors and hostage families published a signed letter directed at Hirsch, calling him out for "the damage he has done to the return of the hostages," and demanding he "resign immediately from his position."

"For two years, Hirsch presented the families with a collection of lies and eye-rolling, threatening and blackmailing us not to speak out against the Prime Minister, while holding an official position and a position of power over us and our loved ones in Hamas captivity."

Hirsch told i24NEWS Hebrew that many planned operations were not executed due to concerns for hostages’ lives. “Even if you have force available, operational capability, and good intelligence, you still have to make sure that the operation has conditions to succeed,” Hirsch said. He also mourned the 87 hostages who did not return alive, calling the loss a “failure that shouldn’t have happened.”

Hirsch rejected claims that political considerations delayed deals, telling i24NEWS Hebrew Channel, “No decisions of a political nature or from political considerations were made regarding the return of the hostages.” All decisions, he said, were based on intelligence assessments and operational feasibility.

Watch the full interview:

The coordinator detailed a key early-stage deal in which Hamas failed to meet Israel’s release criteria, leaving 17 women and children behind. “If we give up on those 17 women and children, we won’t see them anymore,” Hirsch said, noting that Prime Minister Netanyahu met all hostage families throughout the process.

Hirsch also discussed his role in advising government ministers and managing sensitive negotiations. He opposed advancing the death penalty for terrorists while hostages were alive, emphasizing, “I acted in an ethical and professional manner completely.”

Looking ahead, Hirsch stressed Israel’s determination to demilitarize Hamas and Gaza, citing ongoing support from international partners. He declined to comment on potential future political roles, saying his focus remains on completing current state missions.