Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “pushing for the release of the hostages through decisive military victory,” according to a diplomatic source quoted Sunday by Hebrew media.

The source’s comments came as captives’ relatives slammed reported plans to expand the fighting in the Gaza Strip and slammed Netanyahu for indicating, in a video statement on harrowing footage of two hostages, that there was no ceasefire-hostage deal in sight.

In comments carried by several outlets, the unnamed source said “an understanding is forming that Hamas is not interested in a deal.”

Therefore, the source said, “the prime minister is pushing for the release of hostages through decisive military victory, combined with the entry of humanitarian aid to areas outside the combat zone, and, as much as possible, outside of Hamas control.” The source did not elaborate on how such a plan would work.

The source was said to have added that “Israel is in contact with the Americans,” whose special envoy Steve Witkoff said Saturday that Washington was aiming to end the Gaza war rather than expand it, and that the US was no longer interested in partial hostage deals.

According to Channel 12 news, due to the US pivot away from deals that would temporarily pause the fighting in exchange for only some of the hostages, Israel is set to decide this week if it will expand the fighting — even at the risk of harming hostages — or allow more time for a potential deal.

The network reported that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz are undecided on the matter, while the rest of the security cabinet is divided.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, and Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs were said to be in favor........

© The Times of Israel