Despite the stalled negotiations to reach an agreement to stop the war and return the hostages, which have been suspended since the end of the week, the Israeli government has yet to announce a clear plan to resolve the crisis or a practical alternative to recover the prisoners, according to a report in Haaretz on Tuesday.
This comes amid statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff that Hamas "is not interested in reaching an agreement," prompting Israel to consider "alternative options" to achieve its stated goals.
During his visit to an intelligence unit base, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to the operation's dual objectives, saying, "We have a job to do: eliminate Hamas and return our hostages. These are two interconnected goals, and we will not abandon them for a moment."
The Prime Minister convened the ministers of the Security Cabinet for a special meeting, reportedly to discuss the ramifications of the stalemate in the talks, as well as to review the army's plans to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip and tighten the blockade in the future.
For his part, Education Minister Yoav Kisch stated that talks on a prisoner swap had completely collapsed and were no longer on the agenda.
"The possibility of returning the kidnapped soldiers through a specific agreement is nonexistent. This is the reality. We must continue to pressure Hamas and look for other ways to release them and subdue the movement," he said in an interview with Israeli state radio.
Kish emphasized that this assessment is not limited to the Israeli position, but is shared by both the Qatari and Egyptian mediators, as well as US envoy Witkoff.
He added, "Hamas has backed away from everything that was agreed upon, and we will not change the pressure tools available to us," explaining that the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza is primarily aimed at easing international pressure on Israel, nothing more.
In the same context, Likud Knesset member Moshe Saadeh revealed a new approach by Netanyahu, which involves imposing direct control over Gaza and establishing a humanitarian zone.
In a statement on Israeli radio, he said, "Netanyahu talks about occupying Gaza and establishing a humanitarian city where we will provide energy, food, and healthcare, and then allow emigration from it. This is realistic and possible," he said.
In contrast, opposition leader Yair Lapid escalated his rhetoric against the government, saying that "the military campaign in Gaza has spiraled out of control."
In a public statement, Lapid held the government responsible for the continuation of the war without a clear political horizon, noting that continued operations would not bring back the kidnapped soldiers but would lead to increasing casualties among the army, a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, and increased international isolation for Israel.
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Israel considers expanding its campaign on Gaza and tightening the siege