Netanyahu prepares plan to encircle Gaza City
A decision will no longer come this week, the source said.
This comes amid internal disagreements in the Israeli government about its preferred course of action in the enclave.
One idea on the table, if the militant group does not agree to a deal, is to encircle Gaza City and other population centers, while another is to 'conquer' the city, the source said. Different ministers are in favor of different plans, the source added.
On Thursday, a senior Israeli official said that Israel and the United States are forming a new understanding on Gaza, as Hamas reportedly withdrew from ceasefire and hostage deal negotiations.
'At the same time, Israel and the United States will work to increase humanitarian aid, while continuing military operations in Gaza,' the official added.
The shift comes as Hamas has disengaged from ceasefire and hostage negotiations, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Hamas' disengagement follows the US and Israel pulling their delegations from talks in Doha, Qatar, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff at the time accusing Hamas of negotiating in bad faith. Despite that move, a senior Israeli official had told CNN they would be prepared to return to Doha if Hamas changed its position.
On Thursday, Hamas said it was committed to continuing negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, but conditions in the enclave would first have to improve 'significantly.'
The faltering peace talks come amid a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, where scores of people are starving to death.
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