Netanyahu reportedly tells ministers Gaza facing ‘heavy decisions’ if Hamas doesn’t soften ceasefire demands soon

Military and political leaders are debating “heavy decisions” expected to be made in the coming days regarding the future of Israel’s strategy in Gaza, according to a report by Channel 12 news.

Citing unnamed Israeli officials, the report says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers in the government’s top-level inner cabinet at a meeting yesterday that “We are turning over every stone in order to reach a deal, but if Hamas doesn’t show flexibility in the coming days, we will make heavy decisions that will change the face of the war.”

The channel claims that Israeli officials have expressed frustration with what they see as insufficient US pressure on Qatar to compel Hamas to shift its position after talks appeared to collapse last week.

A diplomatic source tells the network that there had been a real opportunity to reach a truce agreement in recent weeks, but that Hamas’s stance was hardened by its launch of what the source called a “famine campaign,” accusing Israel of causing mass starvation in Gaza.

The source is quoted as blaming recent statements by France and the UK supporting recognition of a Palestinian state as dealing “a real blow” to those efforts, echoing talking points from Israeli diplomatic officials.

At the same meeting, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly cautioned political leaders that Israel’s current strategy in the war was prioritizing the destruction of Hamas over the return of the 50 hostages still in Gaza.

Zamir argued that conquering the entire Gaza Strip would take two to five years and said Israel should instead “continue the [current] approach of [targeted] raids,” according to Channel 12.

According to both Channel 12 and the Kan public broadcaster, Smotrich responded by accusing Zamir of failing to deliver on past commitments to defeat Hamas within three months.

“I apologize to the previous Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, and I miss him. You should bring Herzi here and apologize to him, because you attacked him for precisely similar things,” Smotrich reportedly said.

Smotrich had previously called for Halevi’s dismissal over the IDF’s failures during the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre.

The cabinet also reviewed a new set of military proposals, including dissecting the Gaza Strip into operational zones and surrounding key areas such as Gaza City and central refugee camps, Channel 12 adds. Another discussed proposal would see civilians relocated into designated humanitarian zones — including the Rafah area and parts of the coastline.