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https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/04/wtikoff-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-hostages/

Negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire appear to have reached an end — or at least a point of extreme brinkmanship — as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated he plans to expand military operations to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.

In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu said he would convene his security cabinet this week to “direct the [Israel Defense Forces] how to achieve the three war objectives we have set … defeating the enemy, releasing our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will never again threaten Israel.”

An Israel official said that discussions with the Trump administration over the decision were ongoing. “There is a growing understanding that Hamas is not interested in a deal,” said the official, one of several people familiar with details of sensitive decision-making on Gaza who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The White House did not respond to questions on the Israeli plans, and declined to expand on comments Saturday by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy on the negotiations. Witkoff told hostage families in Tel Aviv that his proposal for a temporary ceasefire and the return of about half of 20 living Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza “doesn’t work and we’ve tried everything.”