Israel’s security cabinet gathered on Sunday for a highly charged session centered on two urgent matters: facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza and negotiating a possible deal to release hostages held by Hamas. Meanwhile, Israeli military activity in Gaza intensified, with operations expanding across the region.
During the meeting, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was on the ground in northern Gaza, where he gave the green light for the next stages of the campaign. He reiterated Israel’s two-pronged mission: dismantling Hamas and ensuring the hostages’ return.
“This past weekend, we launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” Zamir told troops from the 401st Brigade. “We will continue until we dismantle the enemy’s combat ability and achieve a decisive defeat wherever we operate. We cannot go back to the reality of October 7.The IDF will provide flexibility to the political echelon to advance any hostage deal,” he added. “A hostage deal is not a halt, it is an achievement. We are actively working toward it.”
At Sunday’s cabinet discussion, officials reviewed a proposal pushed forward by the United States. The plan includes a new arrangement under which humanitarian supplies would enter Gaza through the oversight of a U.S. security company. The firm’s personnel landed in Israel earlier in the day in preparation for their role.
Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, who heads the Israeli unit managing civilian affairs in the territories, stressed the critical urgency of getting aid to Gaza’s civilian population. He recommended widening the scope of aid beyond previously designated zones to help avert an imminent food crisis.
His proposal sparked opposition from right-wing cabinet members. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voiced his objection to any aid deliveries, arguing that such actions could put Israeli troops at risk. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took a more moderate stance, saying aid should be restricted to tightly defined zones. Other ministers from the right sharply attacked Alian, accusing him of undermining the military’s objectives.
The debate intensified following remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that Israeli negotiators in Doha were under his direct orders “to exhaust every possibility for a deal — whether under the White House framework or as part of an end-of-war agreement that includes the release of all hostages, exile of Hamas terrorists and disarmament of the Strip.”
That statement drew swift backlash from right-leaning ministers. In response, government officials clarified that the current negotiations are limited to the U.S.-sponsored proposal. Any broader arrangement would be considered only if Hamas agrees to remove its leadership from Gaza.
Cabinet members noted that Netanyahu is currently weighing two options: proceeding with the initial phase of the U.S. plan, which would see 10 hostages released, or holding out for a more comprehensive agreement. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are firmly against a step-by-step approach, insisting that Hamas must be dealt with decisively. Other ministers favor a phased deal—freeing some hostages now and continuing talks for a broader resolution afterward.
Meanwhile, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum sounded an alarm about the potential fallout of Israel’s military moves. They cautioned that ongoing operations could put hostages in greater danger and complicate efforts to retrieve bodies of those killed.
“Operation Gideon’s Chariots may lead to the death of living hostages and eliminate the chance to recover the fallen,” the group said in a statement.
Prof. Chagai Levine, the forum’s chief of health policy, and former Mossad director Tamir Pardo issued a joint briefing outlining the severe risks associated with continued combat.
{Matzav.com Israel}