Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz made a striking admission on Monday, conceding that pressing forward into the final quarter of the Gaza Strip—territory not yet under Israeli control—could pose a significant danger to the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
This position marks a shift in tone and now appears to align with the viewpoint of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, who is reportedly advocating for a conclusion to the ongoing military campaign.
Previously, Prime Minister Netanyahu, along with Katz and other senior officials, had consistently argued that increasing military pressure was the best way to secure the release of hostages, insisting that stepped-up assaults would work in Israel’s favor.
This newly voiced caution clashes directly with the stance of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been a vocal proponent of a far more aggressive approach. Just this past Shabbos, he reiterated his hardline position: “The only path to decisive victory and the secure return of our hostages is the full conquest of the Gaza Strip, a complete halt to so-called ‘humanitarian aid,’ and the encouragement of emigration.”
Ben-Gvir’s position is echoed by other high-ranking officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. He, too, has pushed back against the idea of a limited deal and has repeatedly demanded that Israel pursue total military dominance in Gaza.
“We need to continue tightening the rope around Hamas’s neck and force it into a complete surrender deal with all the hostages at once,” Smotrich wrote in late May.
Meanwhile, some families of hostages have taken an opposing view. They warn that every additional day of fighting only increases the risk to their loved ones and have publicly urged the government to implement a ceasefire.

{Matzav.com Israel}