Israeli Channel 12 has revealed that among the measures being discussed by both the United States and Israel to escalate pressure on the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas are two key possibilities: demanding the surrender of Hamas leaders abroad, or forcing their expulsion from the Gaza Strip.
In recent days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have all made coordinated public statements calling for a policy shift regarding Gaza, urging a reassessment of current strategies in negotiations over the release of Israeli captives.
Coordinated Escalation Strategy
According to Channel 12, the comments by Trump, Rubio, and Netanyahu reflect a coordinated strategy and follow a private phone call between the three leaders. This call reportedly took place after Hamas responded to a new proposal from international mediators. The U.S. and Israeli leadership now believe that Hamas is intentionally stalling, banking on internal and international pressure to force Israel into ending the war on terms favourable to the resistance.
The report added:
“All three—Trump, Rubio, and Netanyahu—have said in various forms that Israel may pursue new actions. These include several tracks: pressure on Hamas’ leadership abroad, potentially through assassinations or formal demands by the U.S. and Israel for their extradition.”
Additionally, the possibility of seizing territory within Gaza is being discussed as a form of coercion, threatening to occupy parts of the Strip if Hamas does not release Israeli captives within a set timeframe.
Rhetoric Signals a Shift Toward Aggression
Speaking to families of Israeli captives in Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared:
“We need to seriously reconsider our entire approach.”
Meanwhile, President Trump hinted at an even more aggressive military escalation, stating:
“It may be time for Israel to intensify the war and finish the job by eliminating Hamas.”
Green Light for Extreme Measures?
Channel 12 noted that Israeli officials are unsure whether these statements reflect a genuine change in U.S. policy or are intended as a negotiation tactic. However, the tone and timing suggest that Netanyahu may have received what amounts to a green light from the Trump administration to escalate the military campaign in Gaza using more extreme and potentially illegal methods under international law.
Trump, speaking to reporters after landing in Scotland, remarked:
“What happened with Hamas is terrible. They’ve provoked everyone. We’ll see what happens—how Israel responds—but it seems the time has come.”
