JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his security cabinet this week to decide on Israel’s next steps in Gaza following the collapse of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas, with one senior Israeli source suggesting more force could be an option.

During a visit to the country, on Aug 2, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had said he was working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza.

But Israeli officials have also floated ideas including expanding the military offensive in Gaza and annexing parts of the shattered enclave.

The failed ceasefire talks in Doha had aimed to clinch agreements on a

US-backed proposal for a 60-day truce,

during which aid would be flown into Gaza and half of the hostages Hamas is holding would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel.

After Mr Netanyahu met Mr Witkoff on July 31 , a senior Israeli official said that “an understanding was emerging between Washington and Israel”, of a need to shift from a truce to a comprehensive deal that would “release all the hostages, disarm Hamas, and demilitarize the Gaza Strip”, - Israel’s key conditions for ending the war.

A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Aug 3 that the envoy’s visit was seen in Israel as “very significant”.

But later on Aug 3 , the Israeli official signalled that pursuit of a deal would be pointless, threatening more force:

“An understanding is emerging that Hamas is not interested in a deal and therefore the Prime Minister is pushing to release the hostages while pressing for military defeat.”

Israel’s Channel 12 on Aug 4 cited an official from his office as saying that Mr Netanyahu was inclining towards expanding the offensive and seizing the entire Palestinian enclave.

Strategic Clarity

What a “military defeat” might mean, however, is up for debate within the Israeli leadership. Some Israeli officials have suggested that Israel might declare it was annexing parts of Gaza as a means to pressure the militant group.

Others, like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir want to see Israel impose military rule in Gaza before annexing it and re-establishing the Jewish settlements Israel evicted 20 years ago.

The Israeli military, which has pushed back at such ideas throughout the war, was expected on Aug 5 to present alternatives that include extending into areas of Gaza where it has not yet operated, according to two defence officials.

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While some in the political leadership are pushing for expanding the offensive, the military is concerned that doing so will endanger the 20 hostages who are still alive, the officials said.

Israeli Army Radio reported on Aug 4 that military chief Eyal Zamir has become increasingly frustrated with what he describes as a lack of strategic clarity by the political leadership, concerned about being dragged into a war of attrition with Hamas militants.

Palestinians wait to collect free food from a charity kitchen in Gaza City, on Aug 4.

PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

A spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) declined to comment on the report but said that the military has plans in store.

“We have different ways to fight the terror organisation, and that’s what the army does,” Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said.

On July 29 , Qatar and Egypt endorsed a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia outlining steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which included a call on Hamas to hand over its arms to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.

Hamas has repeatedly said it will not lay down arms. But it has told mediators it was willing to quit governance in Gaza for a non-partisan ruling body, according to three Hamas officials.

It insists that the post-war Gaza arrangement must be agreed upon among the Palestinians themselves and not dictated by foreign powers.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar suggested on Aug 4 that the gaps were still too wide to bridge.

“We would like to have all our hostages back. We would like to see the end of this war.

“We always prefer to get there by diplomatic means, if possible. But of course, the big question is, what will be the conditions for the end of the war?” he told journalists in Jerusalem. REUTERS

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