The momentum is increasing for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to expand military operations and occupy the entire Gaza Strip, as Netanyahu is set to discuss this move with senior defense officials on Tuesday. Defense Minister Israel Katz promised "professional implementation" of any decision made by the government.
A source familiar with the matter in Washington reported that U.S. President Donald Trump understands the dilemma Netanyahu faces in Gaza and the awkwardness of the moment for the hostages, and therefore he will support Netanyahu's decision if made.
The source, who requested anonymity, stated that Trump's support should not be surprising, as the president has publicly stated that Netanyahu should "complete the mission" and achieve a total victory for Israel over Hamas.
Last week, the U.S. president stated that Hamas does not want a deal.
Netanyahu met with defense officials on Tuesday evening to discuss his military plans, and he will hold a separate meeting of the security cabinet this week "to direct [Israeli defense forces] on how to achieve the three war objectives that Netanyahu announced since he launched his war on the devastated sector: "defeating the enemy (Hamas), releasing the hostages, and ensuring that Gaza does not threaten Israel again," according to a statement from Netanyahu's office on Monday.
These moves indicate that efforts to reach a ceasefire with Hamas in the sector have reached their end, or at least to the brink of the utmost edge.
The White House did not respond to questions about the Israeli plans on Monday and declined to elaborate on comments made by Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for President Donald Trump for negotiations, on Saturday. Witkoff told the families of the hostages in Tel Aviv that his proposal for a temporary ceasefire and the return of about half of the twenty Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza "does not succeed, and we have tried everything."
Witkoff stated that Trump "now believes that everyone should go home all at once. No piecemeal deals." He said the administration is in the process of drafting a new plan "all or nothing." Both sides have rejected elements of Witkoff's proposal that was on the table.
The State Department declined to comment. The details of the administration's new approach - or how it relates to Netanyahu's new military plans - remain unclear, according to informed sources.
Officials in Qatar and Egypt, who have been mediating with the United States in talks between Israel and Hamas since the onset of the ongoing conflict for nearly two years, stated that they are unaware of any new U.S. agreement for a ceasefire.
While right-wing members of Netanyahu's government have long supported full control over Gaza, senior security officials have repeatedly insisted in public statements that Israel has achieved its military objectives of eliminating Hamas's ability to govern Gaza or launch military attacks, according to Israeli media reports.
The Israeli occupation army claims it already controls more than 75 percent of Gaza, a densely populated area of 141 square miles. The United Nations has stated that only 12 percent of Gaza lies outside the Israeli military zone or areas not affected by Israeli Defense Forces evacuation orders. The majority of Gaza's 2.2 million residents now live in tent camps in the southern part of the sector.
According to U.S. security claims, the Israeli occupation army has mostly refrained from operating in areas where Israeli intelligence indicates hostages are being held. Families of the hostages and many Israeli security officials have long stated that reaching a negotiated agreement is the only way to bring the majority of the captives home.
שתף את דעתך
The increasing momentum for the occupation of the Gaza Strip and hints from Trump that he supports such a decision.