Former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff Herzi Halevi reportedly proposed a sweeping ceasefire deal that would have freed all hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Hamas retaining total control over the territory. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported Friday evening.
According to sources cited by KAN, Halevi urged Israel’s security cabinet to consider a one-time agreement that would secure the release of all hostages and effectively end the war before Israel launched its long-anticipated ground invasion of Rafah. Senior officers from the IDF’s Operations Directorate and Strategic Directorate presented a series of scenarios showing how Hamas could still be militarily weakened or defeated even after a ceasefire arrangement.
At the time, internal IDF assessments suggested that the removal of hostages from Gaza would make subsequent military operations more effective, giving Israel greater operational flexibility without risking civilian captives. However, Netanyahu and several cabinet members reportedly dismissed the proposal outright, calling it tantamount to an admission of defeat and a strategic concession to Hamas.
Officials familiar with the discussions told KAN that Halevi’s plan was shelved so rapidly that it was never forwarded to Israel’s negotiating team in Qatar, which has been engaged in indirect talks with Hamas under international mediation.
Instead, Netanyahu advanced a phased agreement approach that allowed hostages to be released in stages. While the initial phase was implemented, subsequent stages—designed to secure the release of all remaining living hostages—stalled and were never carried out.
Friday marked 700 days since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks that resulted in the abduction of Israeli civilians and soldiers into Gaza, an event that sparked the ongoing war. Families of hostages have since pressured the government to prioritize their release, criticizing what they see as missed opportunities for resolution.
On the same day, the IDF launched a new wave of airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza City, signaling the beginning of a large-scale invasion aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure. Military officials described the offensive as a decisive push to weaken Hamas’s hold on Gaza and move closer to ending the protracted conflict.
Meanwhile, international negotiations are reportedly regaining momentum. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Hamas was “very deep” in discussions over a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement. Washington, along with Qatar and Egypt, continues to serve as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas in search of a sustainable truce.
The revelation of Halevi’s shelved proposal underscores internal divisions within Israel’s leadership over the war’s direction and the delicate balance between military objectives and humanitarian considerations. With no comprehensive ceasefire in sight and military operations intensifying, the fate of hostages and the future of Gaza remain at the center of Israel’s most pressing strategic dilemma