IDF chief approves the battle plans. PMO confirms that envoys will be in Qatar to discuss further hostage release.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the ongoing process of securing the release captives in the Gaza Strip will end and the war against terror group Hamas can resume.

The other two members in the war cabinet – Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Minister Benny Gantz – as well as IDF Chief Staff Lt.Gen. Herzi Halevi echoed his vow to continue fighting.

A Prime Minister’s Office official said that, while talks are underway to extend the current agreement beyond Wednesday by two or more additional days, Israel will insist on the release of all civilian women and children hostages through the current ceasefire before expanding negotiations to include adult male hostages and soldiers.

Israel has promised to destroy Hamas following a massive terror attack that took place last month. The group invaded from Gaza and killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. At least 240 hostages were also taken by terrorists.

Hamas, under the terms of the temporary truce, has released 10 Israeli women and kids every day, in exchange for Israel stopping its offensive and allowing more humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. Israel also released three Palestinian prisoners of security held in prisons for every hostage freed. Cabinet approved a truce that began on Friday and could last up to 10 more days if Hamas releases hostages.

In a press release, Netanyahu stated that the destruction of Hamas and the return of hostages to Israel were still his top priorities.

The prime minister stated that “I set three goals from the beginning of this war: to eliminate Hamas and bring back all of our abducted people, as well as to make sure Gaza would never be a danger to Israel again.” “These three objectives remain in place.”

Israel will return to fighting “unambiguously” after the current phase of returning abducted hostages is completed.

He said, “There’s no way that we won’t fight until the very end.” “This is my strategy, and the whole cabinet, entire government, soldiers, and people all support it. “This is what we are going to do.”

His office reported that Gallant, the Defense Minister, conducted a “special assessment” with the heads from the Mossad, Shin Bet and the Military on Wednesday regarding the efforts being made to bring back Israelis who are held hostage in Gaza by Palestinian terrorists.

Gallant stated in a press release that “we are doing everything we can to bring back the hostages, and complete the process of bringing all the women and children who have been abducted to Gaza.”

The Minister added that “IDF forces on the ground, at sea, and in the air are prepared for a rapid renewal of fighting.”

Gantz, a fellow member of the war cabinet, said that Israel would continue to “make the best” of its 10-day framework deal with Hamas but was ready to renew the fight at a moment’s notice hours before the deal expires.

Hamas has said it would be open to extending this agreement beyond its current six-day period. Israeli officials have said that ongoing talks are underway to extend the deal.

Gantz, who has vowed that Israel won’t give Hamas any quarter, said the war would continue until the residents of Israel’s border communities that were evacuated due to the fighting “can return safely” to their home.

The military reported that Halevi, the army commander, approved battle plans after the ceasefire at a meeting held at the Southern Command Headquarters in Beersheba.

Halevi, in comments provided by the IDF, said: “We are ready for the second stage.”

Reports indicate that the US and Qatari negotiators involved in the ceasefire are now seeking a deal to end the fighting permanently and release more hostages. This includes IDF soldiers and men who were taken on October 7.

An official in the Prime Minister’s Office stated: “We’ve reached an agreement. The agreement is for women and children. We know all the names of the children and women in Gaza. “We don’t believe Hamas’ claim that it doesn’t know their location…that they would have difficulty finding them.”

She said that Israel would not “abandon 27 people” that must be released under the existing framework, “just to discuss a brand new agreement which would be violated the same way.”

60 women and children have been released within the first five working days, and 12 more are expected to be released under the framework of the agreement on Wednesday. This brings the total number of Israelis and foreigners who have been freed by Hamas since October 7th, when they captured 240 people.

Officials confirmed that Israeli, American and Egyptian representatives, as well as Qatari, are in Qatar at the moment to discuss extending of the ceasefire. Netanyahu revealed on Tuesday that Mossad Chief David Barnea is in Qatar to discuss the truce.

The official stated that if Hamas could release all of the remaining women and child, “we would be more than happy to discuss other groups who are still there.”

Officials also denied reports that Israel was considering a deal in which it would free all Palestinian prisoners in exchange for ending the war and the remaining hostages.

The official reiterated Israel’s twin war objectives remain to uproot Hamas, and free all the terror group’s hostages. However, they brushed aside the possibility of Hamas’s mass exit from Gaza in a similar fashion to the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s 1982 retreat from Lebanon.

The official stated that Hamas was “a more religious and jihadistic organisation,” adding that the leader of Gaza, Yayha Sinwar, is a “psychopath” who does not act rationally.

The official stated that Israel’s offensive is expected to be in the southern Khan Younis region of the Strip. He said that it’s easier to maneuver in Gaza’s south than the north which has been badly damaged. “We have make sure that enough places can become safe zones” for the civilians. Israel Defense Forces have designated an area along Gaza’s southern coastline, Al-Mawasi as a humanitarian safe zone.

The PMO official did, however, reaffirm Israel’s intent to target terrorists everywhere they are. He also refused to answer questions regarding whether Israel will change its fundamental tactics or munitions when the war resumes.

The ground fighting in Gaza has been largely confined to the northern area. Israel has also carried out airstrikes on that side. Just before the temporary ceasefire, Israel began airstrikes in that area.