Israel is entering a new phase of the war and initiating the process of fully conquering Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz are expected to present a proposal to the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet Thursday evening to instruct the IDF to seize the remaining areas of the Gaza Strip that it has not yet taken.
These areas comprise roughly 25% of the Strip, mainly in Gaza City and the refugee camps in the center of the Strip, where the IDF has deliberately avoided operating in recent months out of concern for the hostages' safety, with 20 of them believed to be alive.
Netanyahu and Katz's proposal goes against the IDF's professional recommendation to impose a siege instead. Despite this, most cabinet ministers are expected to support the full conquest plan. The current assessment is that the operation would take about six months and cost between 10 and 20 billion shekels (approximately $2.9 to $5.8 billion).
Israel Hayom has learned that although the IDF has recommended a siege lasting five months, it has already begun planning for a full conquest of the Strip. Netanyahu has reportedly said in closed discussions that no hostages have been freed so far through siege tactics, nor has Hamas been defeated this way. For this reason, he supports the more aggressive option, which the IDF also laid out as an alternative.
There are some overlaps between the two approaches, and a unified course of action might be formulated during the cabinet discussions. A final decision may not be made Thursday night and could require a follow-up meeting. The IDF has made it clear, however, that it does not recommend a ceasefire with Hamas at this stage, given the terrorist organization's remaining operational capabilities. A senior officer and field commanders have warned in conversations with Israel Hayom that the threat of Hamas abducting soldiers or launching attacks on civilians remains very real.
The prime minister's decision to shift to a "capture and defeat" strategy follows the collapse of negotiations over a hostage deal, which faltered due to what Israel sees as Hamas' impossible demands. Dozens of people, both in Israel and abroad, have spoken with Netanyahu in recent days and have heard him say he is determined to take over Gaza. Still, a source familiar with the situation told Israel Hayom that if Hamas softens its stance as a result of the cabinet's decision, negotiations could resume.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who was briefed by Netanyahu ahead of the decision, voiced strong opposition. "I told Netanyahu capturing Gaza is a terrible idea. You don't launch such an operation unless the majority of the people are behind you. The Israeli public does not want this war. We will pay too high a price for it."
By contrast, Finance Minister and cabinet memeber Bezalel Smotrich said, "What matters to me is victory and the complete destruction of Hamas. Everyone wants us to stop: Europe, Hamas, the Israeli Left. But I'm doing everything I can to ensure we continue until full victory. Total victory is not just possible, it's essential. And we will achieve it."
