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Netanyahu to Convene Cabinet for Strategic Gaza Directive Amid Hostage Crisis and War Objectives

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that he will convene Israel’s Security Cabinet later this week to provide the IDF with formal directives on achieving the three overarching goals of the war against Hamas: the return of all remaining hostages, the military defeat of Hamas, and the assurance that Gaza can no longer pose a threat to Israel.

The timing of the announcement — just after the conclusion of Tisha B’Av, the traditional day of mourning for catastrophic events in Jewish history — added weight to Netanyahu’s message of national unity and historic purpose. “1,955 years ago, at the end of Tisha B’Av, we suffered the greatest defeat in our history because we were divided. Today we are united, and that is why we have already achieved great and historic accomplishments,” Netanyahu said.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed the prime minister’s emphasis on solidarity, crediting Israel’s unity as the key to its wartime resilience. “We need to continue standing together and fighting together to achieve all the war objectives we set–defeating the enemy, releasing our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” he said.

In a sign of the government’s dual approach–military and civil — Netanyahu and Smotrich also unveiled a multi-billion shekel initiative to rebuild and expand Israel’s southern communities. The plan includes industrial development, educational investment, and the construction of Israel’s first Paralympic village, with projects targeting cities such as Ashkelon, Netivot, and Ofakim. “While we fight to defeat Hamas and return our hostages, we are also building our country. This is how we win,” Netanyahu declared.

The Prime Minister’s Office has signaled that Hamas’ hardened refusal to negotiate stems from two sources: growing Iranian influence and the perceived success of Hamas’ starvation campaign, which is designed to generate global pressure against Israel. In response, Netanyahu is reportedly advocating a strategy that couples military escalation with a targeted humanitarian corridor–allowing aid to reach non-combat areas not controlled by Hamas.

However, internal divisions are surfacing. While IDF leadership, including Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, favors encircling Hamas-controlled zones to force surrender, more hardline voices within the cabinet — such as Smotrich — are pressing for a full-scale reoccupation of Gaza, regardless of the presence of hostages.

With hostage negotiations at a standstill and Hamas growing increasingly defiant—bolstered in part by recent European recognition of a Palestinian state—Israeli officials are signaling that a moment of decisive action is rapidly approaching. The idea of a partial hostage deal has effectively been ruled out, and the probability of a more expansive military operation is rising by the day.

In recent days, talks aimed at securing the release of hostages have collapsed, as Hamas has significantly escalated its demands. According to a high-ranking Israeli official, the government no longer views a limited agreement as viable. Instead, military leaders are preparing for broader engagement, including operational scenarios that could involve the full reoccupation of the Gaza Strip.

The shift in tone reflects mounting frustration within Israel’s leadership, who now see military pressure — not negotiation — as the only remaining path to achieving their objectives. As diplomatic options diminish and Hamas doubles down, the prospect of a major escalation appears not only likely, but imminent.

Behind the failure of negotiations lies more than strategic deadlock — it is the manifestation of a deep ideological chasm. Hamas is not simply a political actor seeking tactical leverage; it is a movement driven by a rigid jihadist worldview that sees Jews not just as adversaries, but as theological enemies. In Hamas rhetoric, Jews are often dehumanized—described as descendants of apes and pigs, corrupters of religion, and unlawful occupiers of sacred Islamic land.

This worldview transforms the conflict from a political struggle into a cosmic battle. For Hamas, surrendering to Israel or even agreeing to a ceasefire is not merely a tactical setback — it is a spiritual defeat. It would represent a humiliation of Allah’s will and a betrayal of their divine mission. In their eyes, any compromise undermines the justification for jihad and shatters the theological foundation of their existence.

This makes meaningful negotiation nearly impossible. Hamas cannot accept a negotiated end to the conflict without unraveling the religious narrative that fuels its legitimacy and inspires its followers. As a result, Israel is left with dwindling diplomatic options and mounting pressure to achieve its objectives through decisive military means.

The upcoming cabinet meeting is expected to serve as a turning point, as Netanyahu prepares to lay out explicit directives for the IDF. “We will give the IDF the instructions it needs to achieve all three goals—without exception,” he said. As the war grinds on, Israel’s leadership appears determined to make sure that the mission does not end halfway.

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