Israel Goes All In On Gaza: Here's Why

According to senior sources in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office speaking to the Israeli media today (Monday), Netanyahu will propose that the IDF fully occupy the Gaza Strip, with the aim of eliminating Hamas and of freeing the hostages - even when endangering them.

According to Channel 12 reporter and commentator Amit Segal, the sources said that the decisive factor leading to this decision were the videos released by Hamas this past weekend, which showed two of the remaining hostages on the brink of starving to death and in a near-skeletal physical state.

The significance of this decision means that the IDF will now operate fully in the central camps area, including Nusseirat, and Gaza City, with the aim of destroying the remaining organized Hamas forces in the Strip.

The IDF had previously avoided operating there for fear of getting the hostages suspected to be there killed, but Hamas recalcitrance and refusal to reach a deal that did not mean Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and even the release of October 7 terrorists means the possibility of a deal has now been scrapped.

However, even if the Prime Minister has made this decision, he must still get it approved by the cabinet, which is set to convene this week.

The sources speaking to the Israeli media also said that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who has resisted the idea of a full occupation of the Strip, can either obey orders or resign, such is the determination of the government to put an end to the almost two years' long war in the Strip.

There are still about 50 hostages left in the Strip, around 20 of whom are considered to be alive, albeit barely as seen by the Hamas hostage videos.