Israel Expands Gaza Offensive Amid Stalled Hostage Talks
Israel plans to mobilize tens of thousands of reservists to intensify its offensive in Gaza, following a proposal by the IDF Chief of Staff to increase pressure on Hamas. This escalation, which includes plans to evacuate some Palestinian civilians, comes as ceasefire negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar have stalled, amid accusations of Qatari bias and Israeli prioritization of defeating Hamas over hostage release. The increased military action has raised concerns among families of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu’s recent shift in prioritizing the defeat of Hamas over hostage rescue has further complicated the already tense situation.
John Q. Hosedrinker