Israeli War Cabinet Divided Over Gaza Offensive and Hostage Deal

Israel's war cabinet is divided over whether to scale back the war against Hamas in Gaza and focus on hostage negotiations, with some members insisting that the war must continue while others advocate for serious negotiations to bring home the hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war against Hamas is expected to continue for "many more months," despite urging from the White House to scale back ground operations. A recent poll shows that a majority of Israeli citizens support continued heavy bombing in Gaza and believe that intensive fighting is the most effective means of getting their hostages home. The IDF announced plans to partially scale back its offensive in southern Gaza, but Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ruled out a cease-fire, emphasizing that military pressure on Hamas is the best way to secure the release of the hostages.