ByNathan Jeffay, In Israel
1 min read
ByNathan Jeffay, In Israel
This story first appeared in this morning’s JC Israel Briefing. Sign up to receiver it here.
Fighting in Gaza could reportedly resume as early as next week thanks to stalling hostage negotiations.
Quoting a senior Israeli official, Channel 12 reported yesterday that the IDF is preparing to resume operations in the strip if Hamas fails to release more hostages by apparent deadline.
The official described negotations between the two sides as “at a dead end”, with the terror group refusing to discuss further releases unless Gaza’s long-term governance is also on the table.
Israel, with US backing, has proposed a plan to extend Phase One of the ceasefire deal after it officially expired over the weekend.
This would see the phase lengthened by 50 days and involve the return of all remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
However, it would not include the total withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza or a committment to negotiate the Strip’s future, which were set to be a part of Phase Two under deal’s original schdule.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be reticent to proceed into Phase Two due to pressure from his political allies and doing so could mean the collapse of his governing coalition.
But Hamas is understood to be set against returning the remaining hostages, and thus losing its main form of leverage, before an IDF withdrawal and a permanent end to the war have been secured.
It now appears, though, that the standoff could see the collapse of the ceasefire as a whole.
Israel has already cut off the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing allegations that convoys are looted by Hamas, and is reported to be considering halting the supply of electricity into the territory before redeploying troops.
The military is already preparing to strike terror sites, with plans for further air bombardment and ground deployments reportedly in the works.
Channel 12 also quoted a Trump adminsitration official giving Washington’s full backing to a renewed conflict with Hamas, reportedly telling Israel counterparts: “Kill them all, every last one of them.”
Their comments echo calls from the Israeli far-right, the key faction opposed to progressing the deal to Phase Two, who have long held that Israel should abandon the ceasefire and return to fighting until “total victory” over Hamas is achieved, including the complete dismantling of the terror group’s military and administrative capabilities.