Netanyahu said finally showing signs he is ready to end Gaza war; IDF chief said to tell ministers, ‘Hamas is dead’

For the first time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is showing signs that he prefers a deal to end the war in Gaza soon, cabinet members tell Channel 12.

The network reports that indirect talks with Hamas could restart in the coming days, while Netanyahu is in Washington, meeting with US President Donald Trump.

There is real, tangible US pressure on Qatar, and Qatari pressure on Hamas, officials tell Channel 12. “We are more optimistic. There are solutions being put together, and more positive approach to moving forward,” says the official.

Israel is showing more flexibility now about wording on the end of the war, according to the outlet.

In the cabinet discussion on the Gaza war earlier today, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir engaged in a spirited debate with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over the future of the campaign.

Zamir told them that “Hamas is dead” after it fired only one rocket during the campaign against Iran, Channel 12 reports. They pushed for a more aggressive implementation of Trump’s relocation plan for Gazans.

Zamir told the two ministers that conquering the entire Gaza Strip would endanger the lives of the hostages, in addition to possible violations of international law.

In the debate, according to the outlet, Netanyahu insisted that the war would not end before Hamas is defeated. However, Netanyahu could define a defeat of Hamas in a way that allows him to end the war in the coming weeks, says the report.