As violent protests grow at home, PM opens door to final-stage deal — exile or elimination for Hamas leaders. But leftist mobs and deep state powerbrokers aim to paralyze the economy to force him out. He hints at final-stage deal, but protests are boiling over.
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Sunday that the Israeli security cabinet had voted to intensify military pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, calling it the only path toward freeing the remaining hostages. In a blunt statement at the weekly cabinet meeting, he said, “It works because it acts simultaneously. On the one hand, it crushes Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities, and on the other hand, it creates the conditions for the release of our hostages.”
The vote to escalate military operations comes amid a tense national atmosphere. Protests against the government’s handling of the hostage crisis have turned increasingly angry — and violent. Demonstrators are threatening general strikes, blocking highways, and accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war to protect his political career.
But the Prime Minister appears unfazed. He asserted that continued military operations — including airstrikes and ground maneuvers in Rafah and central Gaza — are showing signs of success. “We see that there are suddenly cracks” in Hamas’s negotiating posture, Netanyahu claimed.
His remarks came as reports circulated that Hamas had agreed to an Egyptian proposal involving a limited hostage release — five Israelis in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire. Israeli sources dismissed that offer as insufficient. Jerusalem is reportedly insisting on the return of at least 10–11 living hostages before agreeing to pause operations, in accordance with a previous framework proposed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Contrary to claims made by Hamas and echoed by some Israeli critics, Netanyahu denied that Israel was refusing to discuss a broader ceasefire deal. “We are ready,” he said, referring to the so-called “final stage.” That would entail disarmament of Hamas, exile for its leadership, and Israeli security oversight in Gaza.
“Hamas will lay down its weapons. Its leaders will be allowed to leave. We will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the implementation of the Trump plan, the voluntary immigration plan,” Netanyahu said, referencing the controversial proposal to resettle Gaza’s population in third-party countries such as Egypt or Jordan.
This declaration marks a notable shift. Until now, Netanyahu had publicly resisted U.S. and international calls to discuss “Day After” arrangements or long-term governance in Gaza. Analysts suggest the move signals Israel’s readiness to end the war — but only on terms that remove Hamas from power and free the hostages.
Critics were quick to respond. Gadi Eisenkot, war cabinet observer and former IDF Chief of Staff, said Sunday evening: “It is simply false to claim military pressure alone will bring the hostages back. We need a bold and realistic political decision to make that happen.”
Meanwhile, families of hostages — some of whom were killed in captivity — accused Netanyahu of sacrificing lives for the sake of ideology. “We demand action, not more speeches,” said Nili Rapoport, whose son Gilad was kidnapped from Kfar Aza and believed to still be alive in Gaza. “If you’re serious about bringing them back, make a deal. Military pressure has already cost lives.”
Those fears are not unfounded. At least 32 hostages have been confirmed dead, many killed in or around military operations. The IDF says it does everything possible to avoid endangering captives, but the families remain unconvinced.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of “using the hostages as political human shields.” In a fiery address to protesters in Tel Aviv Saturday night, Lapid said: “This government has no plan, no priorities, and no legitimacy left. The public is rising. We will not stop until the hostages are back and this corrupt regime is gone.”
Demonstrations over the weekend turned volatile. In Tel Aviv, protesters carried mock coffins labeled with the names of hostages believed killed during IDF operations. Police used water cannons and stun grenades to clear blocked roads. In Jerusalem, angry chants of “Bibi go home” echoed outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
Adding fuel to the fire, the powerful Histadrut labor federation is preparing for a potential general strike — not only over the hostages but over what many see as the government’s overall mishandling of the war and post-war vision.
One union official, speaking anonymously, said, “The government is not governing. We’re being dragged from one phase to the next without clarity. If we don’t act now, we may lose our democracy and our national soul.”
In response to the mounting criticism, Netanyahu accused Hamas of deliberately sowing division within Israeli society. “This is what Hamas puts in its propaganda films in order to create division within us,” he said, referring to claims that he does not care about the hostages. “We are committed to bringing back the hostages,” he insisted. “Not all the empty claims and slogans that I hear in the studios from the experts — only pressure has worked.”
Still, some in the military establishment appear uneasy. A senior IDF source told reporters off-record that the army is ready to execute a plan for Rafah but needs clear political backing and a coherent endgame. “We’re tired of going in without knowing what the day after looks like. We need political leadership, not just more firepower.”
In the north, tensions with Hezbollah continue to rise. Netanyahu issued a warning to Lebanon: “Lebanon is responsible for what comes out of its territory, and it must ensure that… no attacks against Israel come out of its territory.”
The Prime Minister also praised the United States for renewed airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, calling it “a big change” and a sign that “the alliance with the greatest power in the world” remains firm. “It stands behind us there and in other arenas without reservation,” Netanyahu said.
Despite the global and domestic criticism, Netanyahu remains defiant, convinced that continued pressure is the path to a decisive end. But as military operations expand and civil unrest intensifies, the gap between the government and its people appears to be growing. With every passing day, the battle for Gaza is mirrored by a no-less-intense battle for Israel’s identity — and for the soul of its democracy.
What Trump has refused to do, Netanyahu should bomb Iran. This would be as had been done by President Truman to end the war with Japan.