Prime Minister Netanyahu told senior IDF commanders Monday evening that he had once believed a full hostage rescue by military means was possible, Israeli media report. The admission, made during a high-level assessment, comes amid ongoing negotiations and differing assessments within the security establishment.
Prime Minister Netanyahu told senior IDF commanders in a Monday evening situational assessment that he had previously believed a full hostage rescue by military means was achievable, according to Israeli media reports. The remark was characterized as a personal reflection rather than an operational directive.
The comment comes hours after Netanyahu reportedly described the Hamas ultimatum — 'leave the Strip and you'll get all the hostages' — as an 'enormous defeat' during the same assessment. Together, the statements suggest the Prime Minister is publicly recalibrating expectations after months of military operations in Gaza that have recovered a limited number of hostages alive.
The precise number of remaining hostages and the status of ongoing indirect negotiations with Hamas remain unconfirmed. The security cabinet has not issued a formal response to the reported remarks.
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