According to Yoni Ben Menachem, a senior analyst at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Hamas has yet to issue an official response to Israel’s decision to conquer the entire Gaza Strip because it is banking on the plan collapsing from within.
“From what I’m hearing in Gaza, they expect Netanyahu to fail to gain a cabinet majority and that the IDF Chief of Staff might resign,” he said.
Ben Menachem warned that Hamas is preparing to release more hostage videos to deepen internal divisions in Israel as part of a dangerous psychological warfare campaign.
“This feels like the days before Operation Defensive Shield,” he said, “but now there’s no other choice—Netanyahu is making the right decision.”