Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is supporting a proposal for the full occupation of Gaza, even if it endangers the lives of the remaining captives held by Hamas. The plan is opposed by some family members of the hostage. President Donald Trump appeared to give Netanyahu a green light for expanding Israeli control over Gaza.
The Times of Israel reports that Netanyahu met with “senior security officials on Tuesday to hammer out Gaza war plans, and reportedly came out in favor of the military taking control of the entire enclave, even if it meant that the remaining hostages could be harmed or executed by Hamas.”
Viki Cohen, the mother of two hostages and the aunt of two others, denounced Netanyahu’s plan. “This government is ruining all of our values. We’re hearing talk about conquering Gaza, that will be a death sentence for our hostages,” she said.
The brother of one hostage said, “We can’t give ourselves permission” to endanger the hostages through military operations. He continued, “We have to get them out alive, those who have survived until now.”
Hamas has offered to release the hostages and give up governing Gaza if Tel Aviv agrees to end the occupation of the Strip. Netanyahu has rejected the offer and maintains that Israel will not agree to a permanent ceasefire, and Hamas must also agree to disarm.
A Hamas official told Saudi media on Tuesday that if Israel expands military operations in the Strip, most hostages will die. While over 100 captives were freed by prisoner exchanges, efforts to free their hostages with military action have led to the deaths of Israelis.
Still, Trump appears to have given Netanyahu the green light to occupy all of Gaza. President Trump was asked on Tuesday whether he supported a reported plan for Israel to escalate in Gaza with the goal of fully occupying the Palestinian territory, and said it was “pretty much up to Israel.”
