American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, aged 23, along with Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Carmel Gat, 40, Alex Lobanov, 32, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Ori Danino, 25, were reportedly “brutally murdered” by Hamas militants just before a rescue attempt by the IDF. (Fox News)
A representative from the Prime Minister’s Office commented to Fox News Digital, stating: “The Israeli cabinet decided to implement the operation strategy proposed by the chief of staff himself.”
A recent report from Politico cited a source described as “close to the president’s national security team,” suggesting that a recent strike on Hamas leaders in Doha might have been intended to disrupt talks. The source commented, “Every time negotiations seem to progress, it looks like he [Netanyahu] targets someone,” according to the report.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz attend a meeting on in June, 2025. (GPO)
Officials verified to Fox News Digital that both the IDF chief of staff and the Mossad director disagreed with the timing of the Qatar operation. They noted, “The strategy had been prepared for some time, yet there was no urgent necessity to choose this timing rather than awaiting Hamas’s response in discussions,” one of them observed, while adding that “this decision, along with the continuation of the Gaza operation, counter professional recommendations.”
An additional source acquainted with cabinet discussions confirmed the chief of staff reiterated his stance recently both in the Security Cabinet and the Foreign Affairs and Defense subcommittee. “He has clearly supported the Witkoff plan,” the source indicated, highlighting its stipulations: a 60-day Israeli retreat in exchange for freeing 10 live hostages and 15 bodies, allowing Israel to resume conflict if Hamas violates the agreement.
In a post on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Hamas on Monday night. “I’ve come across a News Report suggesting that Hamas has brought the hostages above ground to use them as human shields against Israel’s advance. I hope the Hamas Leaders understand the implications of such actions. This is an enormous human tragedy, unprecedented to most. Don’t permit this to occur or, ALL “BETS” ARE OFF. RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES NOW!”
