Trump ‘wants all or nothing deal’ to end the war in Gaza

But Netanyahu said to be looking at fully occupying the strip

- BEL TREW STEFFIE BANATVALA

Donald Trump is pushing for an “all or nothing” agreement to end the war in Gaza while Benjamin Netanyahu has met with senior security officials, amid reports he wants to expand Israel’s devastating offensive and stage a complete military takeover of the strip.

After months of ceasefire talks stalled, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump are reportedly working on a deal that presents Hamas with an ultimatum: release the hostages and agree to terms to disarm or the war continues.

“No piecemeal deals. That doesn’t work,” US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly told hostage families in an audio leaked to Israeli news outlet Ynet. “We think that we have to shift this negotiation to ‘all or nothing’, everybody comes home,” Mr Witkoff was quoted as saying in the recording.

Israel’s Channel 12, citing an official from Mr Netanyahu’s office, had earlier said that the prime minister was leaning towards pushing his army deeper into Gaza with the aim of taking full control of the entire territory.

This is despite former security officials speaking out, including previous leaders of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service, Mossad spy agency and the military, as well as ex-prime minister Ehud Barak. In a video posted to social media this week, they said far-right members of the government are holding Israel “hostage” in prolonging the conflict.

Mr Netanyahu’s office said last night that he had held a “limited security discussion” lasting about three hours during which military chief of staff Eyal Zamir “presented the options for continuing the campaign in Gaza”.

An Israeli source told