Donald Trump is pushing for an ‘all or nothing’ agreement to end the war in Gaza while Benjamin Netanyahu wants to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, according to reports.
After months of ceasefire talks stalled, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump are reportedly working on a deal that presents Hamas with an ultimatum: release the hostages and agree to terms to disarm or the war continues.
“No piecemeal deals. That doesn’t work,” US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly told hostage families in an audio leaked to Israeli news outlet Ynet. “We think that we have to shift this negotiation to ‘all or nothing’ – everybody comes home,” Mr Witkoff was quoted as saying later in the recording.
International leaders have ramped up pressure to reach a deal as Gaza faces widespread starvation and videos of two emaciated Israeli hostages circulated online.
“Israel is starving Gaza. It’s genocide. It’s a crime against humanity. It’s a war crime. I have been repeating it and repeating it and repeating it,” Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, told the Guardian.
“Israel has built the most efficient starvation machine you can imagine. So while it’s always shocking to see people being starved, no one should act surprised. All the information has been out in the open since early 2024.”
Domestic pressure in Israel has also been growing as the videos prompted thousands of people to protest in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to release the hostages and end the war.
Nearly 600 retired Israeli security officials and former intelligence agency heads have written to Mr Trump urging him to put pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza immediately.
Mr Netanyahu is set to update his military plan for Gaza this week amid local media reports he wants to occupy all of the besieged enclave.
“The die is cast – we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip,” senior officials close to Netanyahu is quoted as saying in Ynet.
“There will be activity also in areas where hostages are being held. If this doesn’t suit the IDF Chief of Staff, he can resign.”
An official was also quoted as telling Israeli Channel 12: “The decision has been made… we are going to occupy the Gaza Strip.”
The Jerusalem Post and i24NEWS also reported senior sources confirming plans for a full occupation. Mr Netanyahu’s office has been approached for comment.
Seizing the entire territory would reverse a 2005 decision by Israel to pull settlers and military out of Gaza while retaining control over its borders – a move right-wing parties blame for Hamas gaining power there.
Israel’s coalition government is regarded as one of the most right-wing in its history, with the cabinet including parties that seek to annex both Gaza and the West Bank and encourage Palestinians to leave their homeland.
Israeli tanks pushed into central Gaza earlier on Tuesday but it was not clear if the move was part of a larger ground offensive.
Meanwhile, “the worst-case scenario of famine” is playing out in Gaza, according to a UN-back food security agency.
Israel has repeatedly denied that there are restrictions on aid or that there is a hunger crisis in Gaza. It blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza and says it is taking steps to get more aid to Palestinians.
In total, 289 airdrops have been conducted since Israel permitted them to restart two weeks ago, delivering 305 tonnes of aid.
However officials in Jordan warned that they have had warehouses of aid for Gaza gathering dust since Israel reimposed its devastating blockade in March.
Israel says it will allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants, according to the main military unit coordinating aid COGAT.
The agency said the approved goods have been expanded to include basic food products, baby food, fruits and vegetables, and hygiene supplies.
More than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
