Netanyahu's Aides Urge Hamas Truce Over Gaza Offensive: WSJ

Close allies of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are trying to convince him of the necessity of concluding a temporary agreement with Hamas instead of expanding the military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The Wall Street Journal writes about this. In recent weeks, senior security officials and ministers have held a series of closed-door meetings during which they strongly advised Netanyahu to reconsider the strategy and focus on a truce. The Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Army, Zamir, warned that a further escalation of the conflict could de facto lead to the introduction of Israeli military rule in the Gaza Strip.

The head of Mossad, Barnea, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sa'ar, also expressed doubts about the appropriateness of the operation. In their opinion, the priority should be a truce agreement, which would make it possible to release at least some of the remaining hostages.

Sa'ar emphasized that the continuation of hostilities promises a serious diplomatic price and an increase in international criticism due to civilian casualties.

The disagreements among high-ranking Israeli officials have once again become a subject of public discussion, as the prime minister decided to continue the attack on Gaza City, despite growing internal resistance to the continuation of the war and international condemnation, the article notes.