Netanyahu Plans Gaza War End by October Amid Ceasefire Rejection and Hostage Crisis
Israeli leadership rejects Hamas' comprehensive ceasefire proposal as families of hostages demand clear action plans from Netanyahu.
Watan-The Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported on Monday that a senior security official, speaking in closed-door discussions, stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to end the war on Gaza by October 2025 at the latest.
The official stressed: “It’s important to clarify that this deadline is the maximum; if conditions mature and objectives are achieved earlier, the war will end sooner.” He explained that the logic behind the plan is to avoid the war lasting more than two years.
Meanwhile, the genocidal war against Gaza continues. On Monday, the Israeli army announced it had deployed a new rocket shell called “Bar,” designed for complex battlefields and capable of striking targets in an extremely short time.
Earlier today, a senior Israeli political official told a group of Israeli journalists that Israel officially rejects a proposal for a five-year ceasefire in exchange for the release of all Israeli captives in Gaza.
Israel Rejects Hamas’ Five-Year Truce Proposal Amid Ongoing Hostage Negotiations
The official, quoted by Walla! news, said: “Some Arab countries are circulating ideas like halting the war for five years, but there’s no chance we will agree to a ceasefire with Hamas that would allow it to rearm, recover, and wage an even stronger war against Israel.”
He added that the reason Israel did not immediately resume intense warfare after the last ceasefire was to allow negotiations for the hostages’ release. “We are exhausting every effort to retrieve the captives, but our patience is not unlimited.”
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo early Saturday. According to Egyptian sources quoted by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Hamas proposed a comprehensive alternative deal involving the simultaneous release of all living hostages and bodies held by the resistance, a full end to the war, and an agreement for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The withdrawal would be under a short, clearly defined timeline with guarantees from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, which has recently intensified its mediation efforts.
The Hamas proposal reportedly includes a five-year truce during which all restrictions on Gaza’s reconstruction would be lifted. It also outlines detailed mechanisms for regulating the use of resistance arms, ensuring no military escalation as long as Israel adheres to the agreement, including halting offensive military preparations near Gaza’s borders.
Hostage Families Criticize Netanyahu
In response to Israel’s rejection of the proposal, the Israeli Hostage Families Forum issued a statement:
“As with previous comments, the senior political official once again proves that the Israeli government has no plan. Prime Minister Netanyahu and his representatives keep explaining what they will not do to retrieve the hostages, while avoiding at all costs presenting a clear strategy on what they are willing to do to free our brothers and sisters from Hamas captivity.”
The forum added: “We would be grateful if the senior political official (Netanyahu) agreed to meet with the hostage families to review the status of negotiations directly, not just through the media.”
