Channel 12 quoted an official in Netanyahu's office as saying that Netanyahu is leaning toward expanding the attack on Gaza and seizing control of the entire territory, with the goal of resolving the battle against Hamas, he claimed.
A senior official in Netanyahu's office told the channel, "A decision has been made to occupy Gaza. If we don't act now, the kidnapped soldiers will die and the Strip will remain under Hamas control."
In a related context, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported, citing Israeli officials close to Netanyahu, that "we are heading toward occupying the Gaza Strip, and there will also be operations in areas where the kidnapped are located."
Netanyahu is scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, to decide on the matter, according to Israeli media.
Earlier, Netanyahu stated that he would meet with his security cabinet to discuss "options" regarding the negotiations, while Hebrew media reported that he was preparing for a new operation in Gaza, amid calls from opposition leaders to halt the war.
At the start of a regular cabinet meeting on Monday, Netanyahu said he would meet with the security cabinet this week to discuss how to direct the Israeli military to move forward in the Gaza Strip and achieve all of the war's objectives.
"We must continue to stand together and fight together to achieve all our war goals," he added, but did not specify in a statement when the security cabinet would meet.
On Sunday evening, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Netanyahu would hold a meeting on Tuesday with political and military officials to discuss "options" after he disrupted indirect negotiations with Hamas regarding a prisoner exchange and an end to Tel Aviv's genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has repeatedly declared its willingness to release Israeli prisoners "in bulk" in exchange for an end to the war of extermination, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The opposition and prisoners' families assert that Netanyahu is seeking partial deals that would allow the war to continue while ensuring his continued rule. He fears the collapse of his government if the most extreme faction, which refuses to end the war, withdraws.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with US support, has been waging a war of genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
The genocide left more than 210,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 9,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and famine claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.
