IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has canceled a planned trip to the US, as expectations for a ceasefire in Gaza have faded.
Zamir had been scheduled to fly out overnight, but called off the visit several days ago as it became increasingly clear that efforts to reach a hostage deal with Hamas had stalled.
The visit was meant to include sensitive meetings with top officials at the Pentagon, as well as participation in the change of command ceremony for US Central Command, where Gen. Michael Kurilla is stepping down.
Zamir's decision to remain in Israel comes amid reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering launching a large-scale military operation to seize control of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, a senior political source said ahead of tomorrow's cabinet meeting that Netanyahu has not yet made a final decision to order the IDF to launch a new offensive and enter the remaining parts of the Gaza Strip. However, the source noted that the momentum is shifting in that direction.
According to the source, people in Netanyahu's circle, along with ministers who support military action, have been spreading this sentiment to prepare the Israeli public. Briefings indicated that ministers who spoke with the prime minister reported he had decided to pursue an offensive in Gaza, going against the IDF's recommendation to maintain a siege on Hamas-controlled areas while applying sustained offensive pressure. In this context, Netanyahu reportedly used the phrase "conquest of the Strip."
The prime minister said earlier today that the maneuvering would continue in a manner that ensures the war's objectives are achieved. Two days ago, a senior political official said, "We are in talks with the Americans. There is a growing understanding that Hamas is not interested in a deal, and therefore the prime minister is pushing for the hostages to be freed through military victory, while allowing humanitarian aid into areas outside the combat zones and, as much as possible, outside Hamas control."
At the cabinet meeting, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is expected to argue that such an operation would not yield the desired results in the foreseeable future and would endanger the hostages' lives, as one of the war's primary goals is their return.
The political source added that if Netanyahum who usually leads the more moderate bloc in the cabinet, has indeed made up his mind, no other minister will be able to stop him, not even Defense Minister Israel Katz, who has the military's backing, or Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who continues to raise concerns over Israel's international standing amid difficult diplomatic conditions.
Another possibility being discussed between the political and security echelons is that at least some of the hostages are in critical condition, and far greater pressure must be applied to Hamas to force it into swift negotiations for their release. This would include medical care and food to stabilize their condition. Hamas, for its part, has set conditions for allowing such aid and falsely claimed that the hostages are receiving the same supplies provided to civilians.
