As hostage negotiations remain stuck, IDF continues to squeeze Hamas while preparing larger operation

Despite mounting pressure on Hamas, Israel estimates that talks about a new ceasefire and hostage deal are stuck at the moment, leaving military operations as the only lever to pressure the terror group currently.

According to Channel 12 News, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior defense establishment officials held a limited security consultation on Wednesday evening to decide on the next steps.

Since the ceasefire’s first phase ended without an agreement on a continuation, Israel has gradually applied pressure on Hamas, first by cutting aid and electricity, before resuming airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and killing numerous top officials, as well as advancing ground troops in several areas of the enclave.

Israel’s defense establishment estimates that fuel, food, and water will run out in the Gaza Strip within 60 days. In an additional, surprising development that will put even more pressure on the terror group, protests have erupted across the strip.

Despite Egypt threatening Hamas as well, the terror group remains obstinate and has rejected several new Egyptian outlines for hostage deals.

“The military operation is working, but it is gradual and does not bring a turning point in a single day,” senior Israeli officials told Channel 12. In addition, they said that a combination of ongoing military pressure with the new protests could ultimately make Hamas agree.

However, other sources told the news channel: “The hostages have no time, and Hamas is not close to another collapse.”

Israeli sources also noted that Hamas’ continued refusal has humiliated Egypt after it tried to convey optimism about the talks, and Hamas was said to have “responded positively.”

At the moment, the talks are mainly being held between Hamas and Egypt, as the mediators are trying to gain Hamas' approval for an outline that could then be transmitted to Israel.

According to the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the U.S. refuses to pressure Israel into concessions, and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is said to have rejected a proposal for a humanitarian truce during the days of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The most recent Egyptian proposal envisioned an initial release of five living hostages, including Edan Alexander, before five more living hostages would be released every 7-10 days, two foreign diplomats told the Times of Israel on Wednesday.

In return, Israel would retreat from its advances of the past two weeks and enter negotiations about a withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, in addition to the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

During Wednesday’s security meeting, the security establishment reportedly proposed to continue capturing areas in Gaza to pressure Hamas.

While several reports in recent weeks indicated that the IDF is preparing a large-scale offensive aiming to occupy the whole of Gaza in one fell swoop, the report suggested that Israel’s leadership wants to let the pressure build for several more weeks, and therefore has not begun a broad call-up of reserves.