Netanyahu Plans to Expand Gaza War Amid Growing Israeli Dissent Over Hostage Crisis
While Approving New Military Plans, Netanyahu Sparks Outrage from Hostage Families by Downplaying Their Rescue as a National Priority.
Watan-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold consultations this Friday to discuss expanding the war on Gaza, as confirmed by Israeli media outlets including Channel 13 and Ynet. The meeting aims to assess the situation and approve new military strategies already greenlit by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
Netanyahu declared that the “ultimate goal of the war is victory over Hamas and Israel’s enemies”, clearly placing the hostage issue in Gaza as a secondary priority—a move that triggered strong backlash from hostage families.
In a speech at a youth event, Netanyahu stated:“We’ve rescued 147 hostages alive, 196 total. Around 24 remain alive—we aim to recover the 59, but the supreme objective is victory.”
The Hostage Families Forum quickly responded, saying:“The return of abductees is not secondary—it must be the supreme goal of this government.”
They accused Netanyahu of following the hardline path of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, ignoring public consensus that demands the hostages be rescued before any military escalation.
The tension intensified two days earlier, when Netanyahu claimed there were 24 living hostages in Gaza—only for his wife Sara to interrupt and assert the number is “even fewer.” The families described this exchange as “sowing terror on Memorial Day.”
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Halevi threatened Hamas with an all-out assault if necessary, during an Independence Day ceremony at the president’s residence.
“We will strike with full force. The IDF is ready to deliver a decisive blow,” Halevi said, while reaffirming the need to both defeat Hamas and retrieve the hostages.
Military Escalation and Mobilization:
-
According to Haaretz, the Israeli army is preparing to issue call-up orders to tens of thousands of reservists, with deployments planned not just for Gaza but also the Lebanese and Syrian fronts.
-
Walla News reported that the IDF plans to expand ground operations across Gaza, seizing new territory.
-
Active-duty troops will be redeployed south, while reservists replace them in the north—some have already been told they will fight inside Gaza.
Hostage Families Condemn Netanyahu’s Strategy:
Over the weekend, families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza issued a statement accusing Netanyahu of risking their lives through military pressure. They stated via X (formerly Twitter) that:
“His claim that pressure will secure their release is a lie.”
“The army has not rescued the remaining 59 hostages. Netanyahu rejected a deal Hamas was ready to accept.”
The families warned that they would work to bring down Netanyahu’s government if he refuses to secure the hostages’ release in a unified deal.
