The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the cancellation of the state of emergency enacted since October 7th, which mandated a four-month extension of reserve duty for regular conscripts. This military personnel reduction will lead to a downsizing of the standing army in the coming weeks. The announcement, reported by Ynet, came minutes after a harsh stance emerged from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s inner circle towards IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Sources stated that if Zamir disagrees with occupying all of Gaza, he should “resign.”
During Israel’s prime-time evening news, the nation’s most-watched newscast cited a ‘senior source’ in the Prime Minister’s office revealing: “The decision has been made. We will occupy the Gaza Strip. Hamas will not release more hostages without total surrender, and we will not surrender. If we don’t act now, the hostages will starve, Gaza will remain under terrorist control. Operations will also occur in areas where hostages are held.” While not officially confirmed, the leak was reportedly approved at the highest levels. Ynet further reported Netanyahu received a “green light” from Donald Trump for an “operation against Hamas,” with Washington and Jerusalem agreeing the terrorist group “does not want a deal” following envoy Steve Witkoff’s weekend visit.
This leak served as a preemptive response to Chief of Staff Zamir, who recently briefed the cabinet on the immense challenges of conquering Gaza, estimating it “would take years.” The source reiterated, “If the Chief of Staff doesn’t like it, he should resign.” Analysts suggest this could be a negotiation tactic to pressure Hamas, which they note “has nothing left to lose.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu, after his second call with Vladimir Putin in a week, is expected to present a formal proposal to the security cabinet. He will likely order the IDF to conquer Gaza, defeat Hamas, and free the hostages, as stalled talks and recent fundamentalist statements indicate negotiations are futile. Military action now appears the only option to both the Israeli government and the White House. The deep rift between political leaders advocating conquest and resettlement and military leaders warning of protracted guerrilla warfare against a highly motivated enemy poses a major challenge. IDF soldiers, facing extended deployments and consecutive call-ups, confront an adversary committed to “power or martyrdom.”
Netanyahu assured the US he would permit increased humanitarian aid flows for civilians, though balancing military operations with aid convoys presents significant difficulties. Tensions escalated following videos showing severely emaciated hostages Evyatar David and Rom Breslavski, described by experts as having “half their body weight since capture.” The International Red Cross and WHO issued a strong appeal, expressing shock at the “degrading conditions” and demanding “immediate, unconditional release,” access to food and medical care, and an end to humiliating public exposure. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar traveled to New York for a special UN session on the hostages.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government unanimously voted to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara after a prolonged dispute with Netanyahu, partly linked to Qatari bribery allegations involving his associates. The Supreme Court immediately suspended the dismissal pending appeals by the opposition Yesh Atid party and NGOs.
Adding pressure, dozens of former Mossad, Shin Bet, and IDF chiefs called for an end to the war in a video, while the BBC reported 600 former Israeli security officials wrote to Trump seeking support for “ending the war.” Concurrently, the US administration announced it will deny federal natural disaster aid to US states and cities that boycott Israeli companies, citing a FEMA directive reported by Reuters.