ALBAWABA - There is more confusion and anger in Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government is thinking about "alternative options" to get back hostages held in Gaza, but he didn't say what those options are. The comments were made just hours after the US and Israel pulled their representatives from talks in Qatar to end the fighting.
Channel 12 reports that top Israeli security officials were not sure about what Netanyahu said. One source said that the head of the Israeli army had only seen two possible outcomes: either a full-scale military takeover of the Gaza Strip, which would put prisoners' lives at risk, or keeping the pressure on Hamas in the hopes of making a breakthrough.
A senior Israeli source told Axios that even within the government, no one is sure what these "alternatives" are. The source did say that rising tensions might put enough pressure on both sides to start talking again, but that a complete breakdown of the talks would not be good for Israel's long-term interests.
Netanyahu Takes a Stand
In a speech on Friday, Netanyahu said that his government is working with Washington to look into "alternative plans." He said that these would get the Israeli prisoners back, end Hamas's rule in Gaza, and make sure that Israel and the surrounding area would have permanent peace.
People on the far right of the Prime Minister's alliance have strongly responded to what he said. While talking about national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir said that all humanitarian aid should stop, Gaza should be fully occupied, Hamas should be killed, and forced migration and Israeli settlement in the area should be encouraged. He told Netanyahu that the army should be allowed to move.
This view was shared by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said that the time for "humiliating negotiations with terrorists" was over and that now was the time for "true victory."
The Israeli and American teams quit the talks on Thursday night, just a few hours after Hamas officially replied to the peace offer. Initial reports said the pullback was only brief and meant to be used for talks. However, Netanyahu's later statements showed that Israel was taking a tougher stance.
Steve Wietkoff, the U.S. envoy, said that the talks were held up because of Hamas. Netanyahu backed up this point of view by saying that Wietkoff "is absolutely right."
What Hamas Says: "A Dirty Game"
An official from Hamas's political party, Bassem Naim, spoke out against the U.S. stance and said that Wietkoff's words were just pressure tactics to help Israel. Naim wrote on Facebook that Hamas had made a good offer, recognizing how complicated the situation was. He said that if Israel was ready, the offer could lead to a deal.
He also said that Hamas's plan could be the basis for a lasting truce and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops. "Now it is up to the Zionist enemy and those who support it to end this dirty game," Naim wrote.
