Gaza operation hits dead end: Calls grow for ceasefire, hostage negotiations

In a series of confidential and tumultuous meetings with a select government cabinet, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has repeatedly emphasized that Operation “Gideon’s Chariots” has reached the limits of its effectiveness, urging the pursuit of a hostage agreement and an immediate ceasefire.

The military campaign has fallen short of delivering decisive victories capable of dismantling Hamas, Caliber.Az reports per Israeli media.

Paradoxically, the so-called “achievements” of the operation have hindered progress on a hostage negotiation. Originally framed as leverage to compel Hamas to accept the Whitcomb plan, Hamas reportedly agreed to the terms long ago. Nonetheless, Israel remains adamant about not withdrawing forces to the pre-operation frontlines, insisting instead on alternative defensive lines—different from those Israel was prepared to retreat to in March. Rather than resolving the issue swiftly, talks regarding new territorial boundaries have dragged on for over a month. Zamir acknowledges these discussions as inherently political, not military, underscoring the complex interplay between security and diplomacy.

At this juncture, the Chief of Staff is acutely aware that the operation’s touted “humanitarian revolution” has failed dramatically—a reality he has communicated to government ministers who appear reluctant to heed the warning.

Humanitarian distribution centers have devolved into scenes of chaos, with tens of thousands of civilians surging toward aid points, leading to casualties from gunfire and deadly stampedes. The lack of effective separation between civilians and militants has allowed Hamas to seize significant quantities of humanitarian supplies. Contrary to earlier predictions by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his supporters, Hamas fighters remain neither debilitated nor on the brink of collapse.

In recent days, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has issued increasingly urgent and sobering alerts to the military-political cabinet about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its potential political repercussions on the global stage. Graphic images and footage from Gaza are being broadcast not only across pro-Palestinian media outlets but also on mainstream international channels, complicating Israel’s efforts to manage the narrative and justify its actions internationally.

By Vafa Guliyeva