This article, originally published in Mondoweiss on August 4, 2025, discusses the Israeli cabinet’s decision on the next phase of Israel’s war on Gaza. The options were either to end the war and begin ceasefire talks or to expand the war and reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip. Despite opposition from the army’s Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly ordered the Israeli army to «conquer Gaza».
The ceasefire was supported by Israeli army officials, while the decision to reoccupy Gaza was favored by hardline ministers. Zamir had demanded «clarity» from the Israeli government regarding the future of the war effort, reportedly discouraging the reoccupation of Gaza, believing it would «drain» the Israeli army.
The article also discusses the end of Israel’s latest military offensive in Gaza, Operation Gideon’s Chariots, and the ongoing ceasefire negotiations. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited Israel and Gaza, meeting with families of Israeli captives and reaffirming U.S. efforts to reach a ceasefire deal. He also visited the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and stated that there is hardship and shortage, but «no starvation» in Gaza. This claim was disputed by 17 international human rights organizations who stated that starvation in Gaza is real and has already claimed the lives of 159 people including 90 children.
The article concludes with the latest developments in the ceasefire negotiations, including Israel’s objections to Hamas’s response to Witkoff’s latest ceasefire proposal, the release of video footage of an emaciated Israeli captive by Hamas’s armed wing, and the Israeli cabinet’s request to the International Committee of the Red Cross to guarantee the entry of food to Israeli captives. Hamas stated that it would be «ready to engage in talks again when the starvation ends,» implying that the end of starvation is the resistance movement’s new condition for the return to talks.