If Hamas does not agree with the scheme proposed by Israel, which includes the release of 10 hostages in exchange for a 45 -day fire, the military operation in Gaza will expand significantly, the security cabinet decided on Sunday night.
“The security cabinet unanimously approved the operational plan presented by the chief of the General Staff to defeat Hamas in Gaza and bring back to the hostages,” said a high -ranking political source after the meeting.
“The Plan includes … the taking and retention of territory in Gaza, transferred to the Gazatí population to the south for their protection, prevent Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid and launching powerful attacks against Hamas, all actions that will help achieve their defeat.”
During the meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the plan is effective because they can achieve both primary goals: defeat Hamas and return to the hostages.
“It differs from previous plans to pass from selective raids to take territory and maintain control over it,” he added.
Israeli officials declared that the operation will begin only after the president of the United States, Donald Trump, completes his visit to the region next week. The American leader is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and, for the first time in years, Qatar.
Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post newspaper that they believe that Trump’s visit could bring some progress in the negotiations to an agreement.
However, in Israel it is not clear if the ultimatum will make Hamas soften its positions.
There is no going back once the operation is running
On Monday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emphasized that the cabinet had made a drastic decision: there will be no withdrawn, even to ensure the release of hostages.
“Once the maneuver begins, there will be no setback from the territory we have taken, not even for hostages. The only way to free them is to defeat Hamas. Any withdrawal would bring on October 7,” he said.
-In practice, according to an Israeli source that spoke with the post, Hamas has less than two weeks to accept an agreement.
The cabinet also approved the continuation of the blockade to Gaza and the prevention of the entry of humanitarian aid. Only after, after the beginning of the military operation and the evacuation of a large part of the population to the south, a humanitarian plan will be implemented.
This plan, presented by the IDF and approved by the cabinet, will distinguish between true receptors of humanitarian aid and Hamas using civil companies and ensuring designated areas with the IDF.
A sterile area will be established in the Rafah area, beyond the Morag corridor, where people entering will be examined by the IDF to prevent Hamas operations from entering, explained a security officer.
The National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was the only one who opposed the proposed humanitarian plan.
“I don’t understand why we need to give them humanitarian aid. They have enough food. We should bombard Hamas food reserves,” Ben-Gvir told the other ministers.
The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, replied: “These ideas put us at risk.”
While the cabinet ministers told the post that they were satisfied with the approved plans and that their full implementation would lead to a real change in the field, the opposition expressed several concerns.
“The cabinet approved tonight the ‘Conquest of the Strip’ – however, nobody really knows what those words mean,” said the opposition leader Yair Lapid.
Benny Gantz, head of the National Unity Party, added: “A month and a half ago, Netanyahu said we were ‘on the edge of total victory’. Now, talk about a new plan that ‘will lead to a resolution.’ People are not stupid, and are tired of empty slogans. It’s time to tell the truth.”
