According to a report by The Times of Israel on August 9, 2025, Israel’s National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi openly opposed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to take over Gaza City, warning that it could cost the lives of remaining hostages.
“I’m not prepared to give up on saving the hostages,” Hanegbi told members of the security cabinet, according to quotes carried by Channel 12. He argued that a military operation in the densely populated city could eliminate the last chance to secure the release of 10 hostages still believed to be alive in Gaza.
Hanegbi’s remarks came during a tense cabinet meeting in which Netanyahu’s plan ultimately passed despite strong reservations from several senior security officials.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Mossad Director David Barnea reportedly sided with Hanegbi, cautioning that controlling Gaza City would endanger hostages and fail to pressure Hamas into concessions.
The dispute centers on whether to prioritize immediate hostage negotiations or to push ahead with a major military operation to “defeat Hamas.”
Netanyahu insists that withdrawing from Gaza now, as Hamas demands in exchange for hostages, would allow the group to regroup. Far-right coalition allies back him, seeing the operation as a step toward permanent control over Gaza.
Defense Minister Israel Katz and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer supported the prime minister’s plan, while far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir argued that only a full occupation would send the right message to Hamas. “We must not keep stopping halfway,” Ben Gvir said.
The approved plan gives civilians until October 7, 2025, to evacuate Gaza City before the IDF begins its ground offensive. Israel says it currently controls about 75% of the Gaza Strip, with Gaza City and nearby refugee camps making up the remaining Hamas strongholds.
Love Reading Authentic News Stories, Click The Button Below
