Netanyahu to call for 'full occupation' of Gaza as ceasefire talks reach deadlock

2025-08-05 07:38:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Netanyahu to call for 'full occupation' of Gaza as ceasefire talks

Negotiations for a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza appear to have reached an impasse, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaning toward expanding military operations and Hamas demanding that the humanitarian situation be addressed before returning to talks.

Netanyahu will request a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday to support the “full occupation of the Strip,” according to reports in Israeli media that were described as accurate by a source familiar with the matter.

Israel's Ynet quoted senior officials close to Netanyahu as saying: "The die has been cast – we are going for a full-scale occupation. If the Chief of Staff does not agree – he should resign."

The source told CNN that the defense establishment opposes an expansion of ground operations in areas where hostages are believed to be held, as it would risk putting them at risk.

The report was criticized by a group of mothers of Israeli soldiers, saying it would be fatal for both the hostages and the soldiers. The Palestinian Authority called on the international community to intervene.

Asked about plans to expand the military campaign, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Monday that it reflects "a desire to see all hostages returned and a desire to see an end to this war after talks on a partial agreement were not successful."

It is not clear whether the Israeli government's approach is consistent with that of US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff spent three hours with the families of the Israeli hostages on Saturday, and the Hostage and Missing Families Forum quoted him as saying that the plan "is not to expand the war, but to end it. We think the negotiations should be changed to all or nothing. End the war and bring all 50 hostages home at the same time - that's the only way."

“We have a plan to end the war and bring everyone home,” Witkoff reportedly added. “Someone will be blamed” if the remaining hostages are not returned to Israel alive, he said, according to the forum.

When asked, Witkoff's team did not provide any further information on the special envoy's comments.

Trump said Sunday that Witkoff is likely to travel to Moscow later this week./ CNA, translated by CNN