
GAZA WARNING: Israeli Security Chiefs Warn Hamas Is Setting “Strategic Trap” As Ministers Urge Netanyahu To Reject Plan
A heated Israeli Security Cabinet meeting erupted Thursday over two documents outlining proposals for Gaza’s future, with senior security officials warning that Hamas is attempting to deceive Israel and several ministers demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally reject the framework.
According to quotes reported by Israel Hayom, one document dealt with deploying a multinational force in Gaza, while another outlined a roadmap beginning with disarmament and potentially leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Brig. Gen. Ofir Mizrahi-Rozen, head of the IDF Military Intelligence Research Division, warned ministers that Hamas’ acceptance of a 15-point document did not mean the terrorist organization had abandoned its goal of destroying Israel.
“Hamas agreed to the 15-point document, but it has not abandoned its vision of destroying Israel,” Mizrahi-Rozen said, warning that Hamas appeared to be attempting to shift responsibility onto Israel.
He also raised concerns about internationalizing the conflict, introducing foreign forces into Gaza and potentially involving Qatar and Turkey in a multinational security mechanism.
Shin Bet Director David Zini issued an even sharper warning, describing Hamas’ actions as a deliberate attempt to buy time.
“Hamas’ signing is a process of strategic deception designed to gain time and ensure that we do not resume operations in Gaza until the elections,” Zini said. “This is a strategic Hamas ambush. This is deception.”
National Security Council chief Shmuel Ben Ezra told ministers that Israel had already submitted proposed changes to the documents.
Netanyahu said Israel received the roadmap after the previous Cabinet meeting and noted that understandings reached with the United States in November 2025 conflict with parts of the proposal. He said Israel had therefore submitted amendments.
Ministers Ze’ev Elkin, Bezalel Smotrich, Orit Strock and Avi Dichter pushed Netanyahu to go further and publicly declare that Israel rejects the framework.
“You are an expert at navigating, but now that there is an official document, this document needs to be delegitimized,” Smotrich told Netanyahu. “You can’t navigate around it.”
The meeting also featured a clash between Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir over continued targeted eliminations of terrorists in Gaza.
“Not a day should pass without targeted eliminations in Gaza. This isn’t tactical, it’s strategic,” Ben Gvir said.
Netanyahu responded that “in the next 90 days, nothing will be tactical.”
Ben Gvir shot back that he has demanded targeted eliminations consistently for four years, arguing that his position was not connected to the upcoming elections.
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