Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed Monday evening that a plan has been developed for Israel to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media.
The plan will include the Israel Defense Forces operating in areas where hostages are believed to be held despite Hamas’s threats to murder hostages if forces get too close, The Jerusalem Post reported. Hamas killed six hostages last September — including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin— in Rafah shortly before the IDF reached them.
The Prime Minister’s office also encouraged IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, to resign from his position if he disagrees with a full occupation.
“If this does not suit him, you should resign,” the office reportedly said.
The decision came after Hamas tanked ceasefire negotiations last month, leading to President Donald Trump saying the terror group “wants to die.”
“They pulled out in terms of negotiation,” Trump said. “It was too bad. Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die and it’s very, very bad. It got to be to a point where you’re going to finish the job.”
Trump added that Hamas did not want to make a deal because they are down to the final 50 hostages