Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said it is the right time to do a hostage deal with Hamas, a day after the military pulled out troops from Gaza’s main southern city, AFP reports.

With indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a Gaza truce and a hostage deal going on in Cairo, Gallant told Israeli army recruits that, “I think we are at an appropriate moment” to do a deal with the group, six months into the fighting.

“The relentless pressure on Hamas and the position of strength from which we come into this campaign, allow us flexibility and freedom of action,” he added, according to a statement issued by his office.

“There will be difficult decisions and we will be ready to pay the price in order to get the hostages back, and then return to fighting.”