Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu informed lawmakers on Monday that he is considering the generals’ proposal for a blockade of northern Gaza, a strategy put forth by senior IDF reservists.
During a meeting with members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the prime minister shared that “according to the information we have, half of the [97 remaining] hostages in Gaza are alive,” as noted by a committee member.
This suggests that approximately 50 of the hostages may have died. The IDF has only verified the deaths of 33 individuals still in Gaza.
In the confidential session, Netanyahu revealed that the strategy for besieging the remaining Hamas forces is among several options being reviewed and will be presented to the cabinet for further examination in the upcoming days.
Retired Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland, who introduced the proposal to the committee last week, contended that this approach, which lacks U.S. support, would “change the reality” on the ground in Gaza.
“We have to tell the residents of north Gaza that they have one week to evacuate the territory, which then becomes a military zone, [a zone] in which every figure is a target and, most importantly, no supplies enter this territory.”
Eiland maintained that a siege not only serves as an effective military strategy but is also aligned with international law. “What matters to [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar is land and dignity, and with this maneuver, you take away both land and dignity,” he asserted.
Eiland has criticized Israel’s approach to the war in Gaza, stating in an interview with The Times of Israel last week that as long as Hamas controls food and fuel distribution, it can continue to fund itself and recruit new fighters.
“You can’t win a war while this is the situation in Gaza,” he stated. “The slogan that ‘only military pressure will bring victory’ has no basis whatsoever. The wars of the 21st century are based on something else. The most important parameter is the population, and those who can control the population win the war.”
Netanyahu informed the committee that managing the flow of humanitarian aid is crucial for success in Gaza, adding that attempts to engage local tribes have not succeeded. Therefore, he suggested that implementing a military administration in the region might be necessary for the time being, even if it isn’t his ultimate goal.
Likud MK Amit Halevi, part of the committee, praised Eiland’s plan, stating it indicated “the right direction” for Israeli policy in Gaza.
“In order to defeat Hamas we must control the land and the population. There is no other way to victory,” he told The Times of Israel, arguing that as long as Hamas maintains civil control, it will continue to recruit fighters.
This strategy is also “the only chance for a hostage deal” because it will increase pressure on Sinwar to negotiate and make concessions, he argued.
“If he has food for years and the international pressure is on Israel, why does he need to make a deal?” Halevi questioned.
Sources familiar with Sunday’s discussions revealed that Netanyahu did not respond to New Hope MK Gideon Sa’ar’s announcement on Shabbos, when he stated that he declined the prime minister’s offer to assume the defense minister position, succeeding Yoav Gallant.
In a statement, the leader of the hawkish opposition party said he could not accept the role due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, although he maintained he was qualified for the position.
Netanyahu anticipated that the International Criminal Court (ICC) would likely soon issue arrest warrants for both Gallant and himself.
Earlier this month, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan urged the court to issue arrest warrants that he had requested in May for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leaders “with utmost urgency.”
Khan is a “political guided missile,” Netanyahu remarked to lawmakers.
He also refuted claims that he is obstructing a Gaza hostage deal, asserting that Hamas is the intransigent party, having requested 29 modifications to a proposed ceasefire agreement, while claiming that Israel accepted all conditions set by American negotiators.
Reports indicate that Netanyahu has introduced new conditions beyond those proposed by the Americans, including Israel maintaining a presence on the Gaza-Egypt border in the initial phase of a ceasefire and hostage arrangement. However, U.S. officials have also pointed out that Hamas’s demands remain a significant barrier to an agreement.
Hebrew media reports mentioned that the prime minister denounced “fake reports” suggesting he is hindering an agreement and stated that Hamas currently does not seek a ceasefire deal.
He also proposed a new idea for a deal that arose during internal discussions, which would involve Israel agreeing to a series of brief ceasefires in Gaza, with a small number of hostages released in each instance, as reported by Channel 12 news.
He reportedly also argued that increasing pressure on Hezbollah in the north could compel Sinwar to negotiate.
Regarding the recent surge in hostilities against Hezbollah, he stated, “We are talking about distancing Hezbollah from the border and degrading its capabilities. This is not a one-off event. We will continue, but would prefer not to get to all-out war.”
Netanyahu’s comments in the Knesset occurred just hours after he released a video statement declaring that Hezbollah would “get the message” following a series of significant operations against the Iran-backed group in recent days.
Hezbollah broadened its rocket attack range early Sunday to strike the greater Haifa area and the Jezreel Valley, endangering around two million Israelis with its assaults.
The Israel Defense Forces reported that approximately 150 rockets, cruise missiles, and drones have been launched toward Israel since Motzoei Shabbos.
Yesh Atid MK Moshe Tur-Paz indicated he asked Netanyahu during the hearing to clarify the connection between operations in Israel’s north and Gaza — and sought information on when the hostages would be returned and when residents of the north could return home.
“The prime minister did not answer this question,” he reported.
{Matzav.com Israel}