Netanyahu decides to respond strongly to Hamas and impose sanctions after security consultations

The Israeli newspaper "Maariv" reported today, Tuesday, that a political official stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided, after a series of security consultations, to impose new sanctions on Hamas and to respond strongly to what he described as "the repeated violations" of the existing agreements.

The decision came following Israel's receipt of a body from Gaza, which it later claimed did not belong to any of its captives, something that Tel Aviv considered a violation of the agreement, prompting it to hold an emergency meeting for the political and security levels to discuss an appropriate response.

The expected punitive measures may include tightening the blockade on Gaza, reducing humanitarian facilitation, and possibly expanding limited military operations, at a time when international pressures are rising to avoid the collapse of the fragile understandings between the two sides.