The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet discussion stretched overnight Sunday until almost 2:00 a.m. Monday morning, lasting nearly six hours. During the meeting, as reported in Israel Hayom, ministers were presented with detailed war plans for Gaza. Throughout the discussion, National-Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir asked "to vote against a partial deal," and the prime minister stated that such a vote was unnecessary because "a partial deal is not on the table," adding that Hamas must be annihilated.
During the cabinet meeting, the plans for conquering Gaza City were shown to the ministers, and according to sources present, modifications were made based on demands raised in prior meetings. The cabinet did not deliberate on a hostage return agreement Sunday since no progress has been made toward one, while preparations for the military operation in the field are being finalized. Nevertheless, ministers sensed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has conclusively decided to move away from the framework for a partial deal, echoing the demand made by Minister Bezalel Smotrich several weeks ago.
A conciliatory atmosphere was present in the cabinet on Sunday, and even Chief of Staff Eyald Zamir earned praise after emphasizing that the forces would execute the directives of the political leadership with excellence, even if they held different opinions.
The plans were presented over the course of the discussion, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, together with other ministers, pushed for implementing an effective siege after giving the population an opportunity to leave. He also called for a concentrated effort on the civilian outcome, which would involve distributing food only under Israeli supervision and, as the war progresses, moving toward annexation to demonstrate the price of Hamas's error and defeat when it launched the October 7 massacre.
According to sources knowledgeable on the subject, discussions for a deal are constantly underway to find a formula that will lead to the hostages' return, and these talks might continue even under fire from the new operation to conquer Gaza City. The elimination of the Hamas spokesman, which was accomplished over the weekend, also inspires hope that the terror group will eventually become more flexible.
At the government meeting, Netanyahu spoke about the imminent operation in Gaza, saying "This operation reflects our commitment to bringing back all our hostages. I remind you that we have so far returned 207, including 148 living hostages. We will bring them all back – both the living and the deceased. The cabinet has made its decision on the matter – the defeat of Hamas and the release of all our hostages, through a great effort, and the IDF has already started to implement this decision. I wish to express my appreciation for the reserve and regular soldiers who are preparing for the mission of liberation and victory."
The cabinet ministers were also asked to state their views on the sovereignty plan being developed. As will be revealed by Israel Hayom for the first time, contrary to the hopes being nurtured by ministers in the government, the plan promoted by Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer with senior US administration officials proposes only partial sovereignty over the Jordan Valley region.
It is a plan based on a wide consensus in Israel and, as Dermer hopes, a bipartisan one in the US, in contrast to applying full sovereignty over most of the territory in Judea and Samaria. A senior government official who is familiar with the plan Dermer is promoting told Israel Hayom on Sunday that "Netanyahu is advancing a partial sovereignty move and will take heat for it from the Europeans as if he applied it to the entire area, when he could get full recognition from Trump."
