Netanyahu Delays Decision on Military Operations in Gaza Amid Israeli Disagreements

A knowledgeable source revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to postpone making a decisive decision regarding the steps the Israeli army will take in the Gaza Strip if Hamas rejects the current agreement, amid a stalemate in ceasefire negotiations and prisoner exchanges despite the efforts of mediators.

The source confirmed, according to CNN, that the decision will not be made this week, in light of internal disagreements among Israeli ministers about the best option to deal with the situation in the sector.

Among the proposed plans is the idea of "completely surrounding the city of Gaza" in addition to other residential areas, while other parties support the option of "invading" the city, as ministers in the Israeli government disagree on the preferred course of action.

These developments come amid intense negotiations sponsored by mediators (the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar) that began on July 6, but have not yet resulted in a breakthrough in stopping the war that started on October 7, 2023.

In his recent statements, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said that the coming days will reveal whether reaching an agreement is still possible, indicating that fighting may continue relentlessly if no progress is made on the hostage issue.

Israel insists on not fully withdrawing from Gaza, while Hamas demands a complete withdrawal.

Israel also opposes distributing humanitarian aid through the United Nations, preferring to assign that to the "Gaza Foundation," while Hamas calls for a return to the United Nations, amid worsening humanitarian conditions and the spread of malnutrition and famine in the sector.

In a related context, a senior Israeli official confirmed that Israel and the United States are in the process of drafting a new understanding regarding Gaza, while continuing to work on increasing humanitarian aid, despite ongoing military operations.