Israel Plans Major Gaza Escalation as Netanyahu Blocks Hostage Deal and Faces Public Backlash
Security cabinet to approve reserve call-up and new invasion plan as critics warn of hostage deaths, military overreach, and rising public anger
Watan-Israel’s security cabinet is set to meet on Sunday to approve the mobilization of tens of thousands of reservists within 48 hours and to endorse military plans for a new large-scale campaign in Gaza, following the failure of the recent brutal operation “Operation Courage and Sword.” The move comes amid rising unrest and public doubt in Israel regarding the goals of the war and the fate of Israeli hostages.
On the ground, the Israeli army has already begun calling up initial reservist groups to relieve regular forces across several fronts, particularly inside Gaza.
Military censorship lifted today confirmed earlier leaks that two Israeli soldiers were killed and four others severely wounded in separate incidents in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas released another video showing a captured Israeli soldier pleading for release, a message echoed by tens of thousands of demonstrators in Tel Aviv demanding a prisoner swap and end to the war.
Israeli media report that the new military plan aims to occupy more territory within Gaza and push civilians into smaller zones. Currently, the Israeli army controls approximately 35% of the Strip. Politicians are set to decide how humanitarian aid is delivered—likely via a U.S.-supervised logistics company—while the military refuses any role in distribution to prevent Hamas from accessing the supplies.
Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to push for maximum military pressure on Hamas and blocking aid, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for a full occupation of Gaza and the establishment of military rule to permanently eliminate Hamas.
Netanyahu Sacrifices Hostages for War Agenda
Efforts to reach a hostage deal remain stalled, largely due to Netanyahu’s refusal, two months ago, to proceed with the second phase of negotiations. Critics accuse him of deliberately prolonging the war for political gain. Netanyahu recently declared that the real objective is “victory over Hamas,” effectively abandoning the remaining hostages.
In a provocative shift, Netanyahu also attacked Qatar, accusing it of siding with Hamas despite acting as a mediator. Doha rejected his claims, while Egyptian sources voiced disappointment with Israel’s rejection of a new ceasefire proposal welcomed by the U.S.
Ben Gvir’s Extremist Threats
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir returned from the U.S. praising the push for escalation. He called on Israeli radio for the use of “maximum force”, likening Hamas to the Nazis and advocating for total siege, starvation, and destruction of Gaza’s remaining food supplies.
Military experts and commentators, however, have expressed serious reservations. Retired General Noam Tibon stated that the war risks the lives of hostages, is driven by political rather than strategic goals, and warned against the deepening military draft crisis, especially as ultra-Orthodox Jews are exempted from service.
Former Navy Commander Eliezer “Chiney” Marom noted the lack of realistic objectives, criticizing calls for occupation and predicting failure based on the “Defensive Shield” lessons in the West Bank, which failed to eliminate Hamas or terror networks after decades.
The Illusion of Military Solutions
Senior analysts Yossi Yehoshua (Yedioth Ahronoth) and Amos Harel (Haaretz) argue that the renewed escalation only follows the failure of Operation Courage and Sword to impose an Israeli deal on Hamas. Harel accuses Netanyahu of escalating war fronts to mask political failures, noting that no hostage has been retrieved after 50 days of fighting.
Political columnist Shimon Shiffer mocks Netanyahu’s promise of “more firepower,” labeling it a diversion from economic crisis and moral collapse, while warning that delaying a deal is an unforgivable betrayal.
One-State Trap: A Warning from Within
Columnist Ben-Dror Yemini warns of an impending “one-state trap”, a future in which Israel absorbs Gaza and the West Bank, leading to a Jewish minority and internal collapse. He blames both the far-right and radical left, accusing extremists of dragging Israel into a binational scenario that resembles the failed states of Yugoslavia and Sudan.
