Netanyahu Demands Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza, Sparking Controversy Over Hostages and Future of Conflict

Over a week since Hamas agreed to a ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt, Israel remains silent on the matter, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion of immediate negotiations for hostage release and war cessation.

This unexpected shift in strategy from partial to comprehensive negotiations has left mediators and families of remaining hostages perplexed, with accusations that the prime minister is abandoning their loved ones.

For over 18 months, Israel has only agreed to temporary ceasefire deals on a phased basis. However, Netanyahu now demands a complete agreement securing the release of all hostages and ending the war entirely on Israel’s terms. This policy change coincides with plans for a large-scale military assault on Gaza City, as Netanyahu pursues a dual strategy of negotiations and ongoing conflict to “defeat Hamas.”

On Thursday, Netanyahu announced the initiation of immediate negotiations for hostage return and war termination in Gaza. Yet, he neglected to mention the current proposal – which offers a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of half the hostages – that mirrors the 60-day truce agreed upon last month with more favorable terms for Israel following Hamas’ flexibility regarding prisoner releases and security perimeters.

Simultaneously, Netanyahu continues to advance plans for a significant Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) offensive in Gaza City. Israel attributes Hamas’ concessions to the imminent threat of its assault on Gaza City, with officials believing that the renewed military pressure will make Hamas more amenable to accepting Israel’s conditions for ending the conflict.

While Israel has long maintained that military pressure would force Hamas to negotiate, the terror group has persisted despite nearly two years of fighting. Netanyahu has not explained the reason behind this sudden shift from partial to comprehensive negotiations, leaving many puzzled about his mixed messages: for 18 months, the government declined to discuss ending the war and only agreed to negotiate phased ceasefire deals. Now, he is opting solely for a comprehensive deal and has been reluctant to respond to the mediators’ latest proposal accepted by Hamas.

Senior Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim stated that “the movement has presented everything necessary to reach a ceasefire agreement and is still ready to do so with all national responsibility and an open mind.” Naim added that Netanyahu had received a “green light” from the Trump administration for what he called a “dirty game.”

According to senior Israeli sources, the key to Netanyahu’s new negotiation strategy lies not in Jerusalem but in Washington. In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has openly supported Israel’s renewed assault in Gaza and adopted Israeli rhetoric aimed at destroying Hamas instead of advocating for a temporary ceasefire.

After Hamas presented obstacles during the last round of negotiations in Qatar in July, Trump “lost patience and trust with the partial process” and no longer believes that Hamas genuinely desires a deal. This sentiment echoes remarks made by US envoy Steve Witkoff following the latest round of talks’ collapse, accusing Hamas of being uncoordinated and acting in bad faith.

In Israel’s most recent security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu’s government approved the decision to escalate and deepen the operation in Gaza City under five conditions: disarmament of Hamas, release of all hostages, demilitarization of Gaza while maintaining Israeli security control, establishment of an alternative civil administration separate from Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, and full Israeli security control over Gaza post-conflict, enabling Israel to carry out strikes in the territory.

However, Hamas has drawn a red line at any notion of disarming. Israeli analysts claim that Netanyahu’s dual messaging – pursuing peace while waging war – serves as a political tactic to extend the conflict and his own tenure.

“Netanyahu is fully aware that Hamas will never accept his conditions for ending the war – and that is precisely his point,” said Chaim Levinson, senior diplomatic commentator for Israel’s Haaretz newspaper. Netanyahu’s demand for territorial control over large swaths of Gaza “is likely to derail any potential agreement.”

Netanyahu has demanded full Israeli security control over Gaza in any post-war scenario, ensuring Israel retains the right to conduct strikes in the territory. Under such conditions, no investments would be made in Gaza as it would remain trapped in a state of ongoing conflict, according to Levinson.

While repeated polling indicates that the majority of the Israeli public supports any deal bringing back hostages, Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, vehemently oppose any ceasefire or end to the war, warning it could lead to the collapse of the government.

Due to these overt threats, all hostage deals have been designed as phased and gradual, enabling Netanyahu to promise his coalition partners that Israel will resume the war eventually.

Netanyahu’s far-right allies have pressured him to intensify the bombardment of Gaza until Hamas surrenders. Former State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the Biden administration believed Netanyahu was hindering ceasefire negotiations. “There were times that we very much wanted to go public and make clear that we thought the prime minister was being completely intransigent and making it tougher to get a deal,” he told Israel’s Channel 13. However, the disagreements remained private due to former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar withdrawing from negotiations when he saw a split between the US and Israel.

The prime minister’s latest maneuvers and perceived double messaging have aggravated tensions between his government and the families of remaining hostages in Gaza. The families, who have been escalating public pressure since the cabinet approved the Gaza City offensive, accuse the government of sacrificing the hostages by delaying or dismissing the partial agreement on the table.

Following some of the largest anti-war protests Israel has seen since the conflict began nearly two years ago, the hostage families are planning another demonstration for Tuesday night, aiming to maintain pressure on a government they perceive as deaf to their cries of pain.