Overview

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly prioritized defeating Hamas over the release of the 59 remaining hostages, marking a shift in Israel's war objectives.
• Netanyahu stated that while freeing hostages is a 'very important goal,' achieving 'victory over our enemies' is the war's supreme objective.
• Hostage families and public opinion strongly oppose this stance, with recent polls showing most Israelis support a deal to release all hostages and end the war.
• Far-right coalition members, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, echoed Netanyahu's position, emphasizing the need to eliminate Hamas entirely.
• Israel is preparing to expand its military operations in Gaza as ceasefire negotiations remain stalled, with up to 24 hostages believed to still be alive.