Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a new threat to escalate the ongoing genocide in Gaza, declaring that military and political pressure—not diplomacy—is the only way to recover Israeli captives held by the Palestinian resistance. He further hinted at reviving Donald Trump’s displacement plan, which seeks to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza and permanently alter the region’s demographics.
Speaking at the opening of Sunday’s cabinet session, Netanyahu stated:
“The combination of military and political pressure is the only way to recover the hostages—not empty slogans I hear in the studios,”as reported by Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
His comments were seen as a direct rebuke of top Israeli analysts and families of the captives, who have publicly warned that Israel’s brutal war in Gaza could kill the hostages, and have accused Netanyahu of using the war for personal political gain, according to Anadolu Agency.
Genocide Under U.S. Protection
Backed by unconditional U.S. support, Israel has been committing mass atrocities in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in over 164,000 Palestinian casualties, including tens of thousands of children and women, and more than 14,000 people still missing under the rubble, according to health officials and human rights reports.
Tel Aviv estimates that 59 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive. Meanwhile, Israel continues to imprison over 9,500 Palestinians, many of whom endure torture, starvation, and medical neglect, which has led to numerous deaths behind bars.
Despite this, Netanyahu claimed:
“Military pressure is working—it is crushing Hamas’ capabilities and setting the stage for the captives’ release.”He added that Israel’s security cabinet had decided to intensify strikes on Gaza to increase pressure on the resistance.
He went on to attack what he called three “lies”:
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- That Israel is not negotiating – “We are negotiating under fire,” he insisted.
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- That Israel has no plan for post-war Gaza – “We’re ready. Hamas will disarm. Its leaders will leave, and we will secure Gaza.”
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- That the government does not care about the captives – “My wife and I met their families this week, and ministers meet them regularly.”
Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal as Israel Escalates
On Saturday, Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, confirmed the movement had accepted a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, expressing hope that Israel would not sabotage it. He did not disclose the proposal’s details.
Earlier this month, the Arab League adopted a $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza, rejecting any attempt to forcibly relocate Palestinians, and calling for a five-year framework to rebuild the Strip without demographic change.
However, both Israel and the United States rejected the plan, insisting on reviving Donald Trump’s vision of removing Gazans and relocating them to neighbouring countries like Egypt and Jordan—a plan those nations and several regional and international bodies have firmly rejected.
Israel Violates Ceasefire While Citing Hostage Concerns
The first phase of the Israel-Hamas hostage exchange deal, which began on January 19, 2025, under Qatari-Egyptian mediation and U.S. support, ended earlier this month. Hamas honoured the agreement, but Netanyahu’s government refused to proceed with the second phase.
Instead, on March 18, Netanyahu resumed indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza, bowing to pressure from the most extreme elements of his far-right coalition, according to Hebrew media reports.
Since the resumption of military operations, Israel has killed 921 Palestinians and injured 2,054 others, the vast majority of whom are women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Trump’s Blueprint: Genocide Through Displacement
Netanyahu’s rhetoric reflects a broader strategy that traces back to Trump’s so-called “Peace to Prosperity” plan, which proposed expelling Palestinians from Gaza and transforming the Strip into a “Middle East Riviera”—a notion that effectively whitewashes ethnic cleansing as economic development.
As Netanyahu pushes to implement this agenda, the Israeli genocide continues under the guise of hostage recovery, while international legal bodies remain paralyzed and major Western powers, particularly the United States, offer unwavering political and military backing.
