Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene his security cabinet this week to determine the country’s next steps in Gaza following the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas. According to reports, one senior Israeli source suggested that more force could be an option, with Israeli officials floating ideas that include expanding the military offensive in Gaza and annexing parts of the shattered enclave.
During a visit to Israel last Saturday, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff stated that he was working closely with the Israeli government to devise a strategy for ending the conflict. However, after meeting with Witkoff, Netanyahu seemed to lean towards a more aggressive approach. “An understanding is emerging that Hamas is not interested in a deal and therefore the prime minister is pushing to release the hostages while pressing for military defeat,” a senior Israeli official said.
The Israeli military has presented various alternatives, including extending operations into areas of Gaza where it has not yet operated. However, some officials are concerned that expanding the offensive could endanger the lives of the 20 hostages still believed to be alive. Israeli Army Radio reported that military chief Eyal Zamir has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of strategic clarity from the political leadership.
Some Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have suggested that Israel should impose military rule in Gaza before annexing it and re-establishing Jewish settlements that were evicted 20 years ago. “What a ‘military defeat’ might mean, however, is up for debate within the Israeli leadership,” noted a report by Reuters.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed the government’s preference for a diplomatic solution, while emphasizing the need for a comprehensive agreement that would “release all the hostages, disarm Hamas, and demilitarize the Gaza Strip.” “We would like to have all our hostages back. We would like to see the end of this war. We always prefer to get there by diplomatic means, if possible. But of course, the big question is, what will be the conditions for the end of the war?” Saar told journalists in Jerusalem.
In a separate development, Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, criticized governments and corporations for claiming to be surprised by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Israel has built the most efficient starvation machine you can imagine. So while it’s always shocking to see people being starved, no one should act surprised. All the information has been out in the open since early 2024,” Fakhri told the Guardian, highlighting the severity of the situation in Gaza.