Israeli Chief of Staff: More Operations in Gaza Threaten Lives of the Hostages

SadaNews: The Wall Street Journal reported today, Monday, citing an informed source, that Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told the Israeli government that more operations in the Gaza Strip would threaten the lives of the Israeli hostages.

The source stated that Zamir informed the government that he prefers a deal for the release of the hostages in Gaza.

For its part, the Israeli Army Radio said today that the army informed the political leadership that it is currently impossible to achieve both objectives of the war simultaneously.

The radio added that the army believes that the "kidnapped" Israelis in Gaza should be retrieved first.

The government of Benjamin Netanyahu had set objectives for its war on Gaza, primarily the elimination of the Hamas movement and the retrieval of hostages in Gaza.

This comes as the Israeli army has recently faced escalating operations from Palestinian resistance in Gaza, resulting in many casualties and injuries.

It also comes amid Israeli media reports about the increasing disagreement between the Chief of Staff and the Prime Minister regarding whether to proceed with the military option in Gaza despite the risks and losses or to pursue a deal with Hamas that includes a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire.

It is noteworthy that a new round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas has started in the Qatari capital, Doha, in an effort to reach an agreement, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement might be reached during this week.

Trump is scheduled to meet Netanyahu today at the White House, and the U.S. President earlier indicated the possibility of announcing an agreement regarding Gaza following their meeting.