Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet on Tuesday to decide the next phase of the war in Gaza, as Hamas continues to reject all proposed agreements, including those involving the full return of hostages and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip in exchange for ending the war.
The terrorist organization's adamant refusal to accept any proposal that would jeopardize its survival as an armed entity in the Gaza Strip is pushing Israel's political leadership toward decisions it has so far avoided, decisions that could lead to a confrontation with the military echelon.
"We've reached a a critical point"
Sources close to the matter told Israel Hayom that a rift has emerged between Israel's political and military leadership over how to proceed. While IDF officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, support encircling Hamas controlled areas until the terrorist organization surrenders, hardline ministers such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are calling for a full-scale reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, even in areas where hostages are believed to be held.
Israel, which has maintained continuous dialogue with the US, now sees itself at a critical juncture. A senior diplomatic source said: "We've reached a a critical point in the war against Hamas and in the campaign to free the hostages." According to the same source, Hamas has conveyed through intermediaries that it will not engage in any negotiations until the "hunger crisis" in Gaza is resolved.
The Prime Minister's Office believes that Hamas' steadfast refusal to compromise stems from two primary factors: increasing Iranian influence and the perceived success of its starvation campaign, designed to apply international pressure on Israel.
In response, Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for a combined military solution aimed at defeating Hamas while enabling humanitarian aid to enter areas outside combat zones and, wherever possible, areas not under Hamas control.
A key part of the ongoing discussions is a controversial proposal spearheaded by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to encourage voluntary emigration of Palestinians from Gaza. The plan, however, has faced logistical obstacles, chief among them the lack of a country willing to accept the Palestinians.
Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu met with Julian Larsson, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, and urged the organization to immediately provide food and medical care to the hostages. Netanyahu emphasized that Hamas' narrative of famine is false and said the real victims of systematic starvation and abuse are the hostages held by the terrorist group.
"The world cannot remain silent in the face of images that echo the atrocities of the Nazis," Netanyahu told Larsson. He called on the international community to denounce both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations and to halt all forms of direct or indirect support, stressing that their actions violate international law and the Geneva Conventions.
