Unable to discover a diplomatic reply to the hostage disaster, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a “army answer” to free the remaining hostages being held by Hamas terrorists, an Israeli official advised ABC Information on Sunday.
Netanyahu has prompt increasing the Israeli army operation in Gaza and utilizing army power to extract the ultimate hostages who’ve been in captivity since being kidnapped within the Oct. 7, 2023, shock assault on Israel by Hamas terrorists.
It’s believed there are about 20 dwelling hostages nonetheless being held by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the press, on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 8, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Pictures
The Israeli official advised ABC Information that Israel and U.S. officers are in fixed dialogue.
The official stated there’s a rising understanding on the Israeli facet that Hamas isn’t focused on a deal on the hostages.
“Due to this fact, Prime Minister Netanyahu is pushing to broaden army operations to launch the hostages via a army answer,” the Israeli official stated.
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters crammed the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding their authorities finish the struggle and convey the final hostages residence.
“They’re on absolutely the brink of demise,” Ilay David, whose brother, Evyatar David, is believed to be among the many remaining Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, advised protesters gathered in Tel Aviv. “Within the present unimaginable situation, they could have solely days left to dwell.
Hamas launched a video over the weekend displaying Evyatar David trying painfully emaciated.
The protest erupted hours after Steve Witcoff, Donald Trump’s particular envoy to the Center East, met in Israel with the households of hostages nonetheless in captivity.
As international concern over the starvation disaster in Gaza intensifies, Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee traveled to the Center East on Friday to examine the U.S. and Israel-backed assist distribution system there.
For months, humanitarian assist organizations and worldwide our bodies have warned that Gaza is going through “crucial” ranges of starvation and that famine is “imminent” in elements of the Gaza Strip.
An growing variety of deaths on account of malnutrition have additionally been reported, based on the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Well being.
At the very least 175 individuals, together with 93 youngsters, have died from malnutrition in Gaza, based on the Gaza Well being Ministry.
All through the battle, Israel has maintained that it’s sending sufficient assist into Gaza, however worldwide assist organizations have repeatedly stated there’s not sufficient assist, and the United Nations has reported situations of malnutrition inside Gaza.
The Israeli supply who spoke to ABC Information stated humanitarian assist will proceed to enter Gaza in areas outdoors fight zones and areas now not managed by Hamas.
