Netanyahu Emphasizes Punishment for Hamas Following Death of Six Hostages; Gallant Insists on Withdrawal from Philadelphi

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a security-political cabinet meeting on Sunday evening, requested the army and security and intelligence agencies to provide him with proposals for "severe punishment" against the extremist group Hamas due to the killing of six young hostages. Reports from Israeli media indicate that Netanyahu has given the army and the internal security agency a deadline of 48 hours after the meeting to present their proposed solutions for the "severe punishment" of Hamas. The security-political cabinet meeting in Israel coincided with large-scale protests across the country. According to Israeli police estimates, over 700,000 Israelis participated in protests in Tel Aviv and other cities on Sunday, September 11. These protests sometimes faced police confrontations, including the use of water cannons and the arrest of some demonstrators. Many speakers at these protests, including mothers of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, harshly criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of obstructing a deal with Hamas. The protesters, angered by the return of the bodies of the six murdered Israeli hostages, demanded that Netanyahu's government agree as soon as possible to a final deal with Hamas so that the remaining hostages in Gaza could return alive to Israel, "not in black body bags." Additionally, according to a call from the "Histadrut," the Israeli workers' union, a one-day strike was held in Israel on Tuesday to warn the government to strive for a final agreement for the release of hostages. However, according to Israel Hayom, a newspaper supportive of Netanyahu's government, the Prime Minister stated in the Sunday evening cabinet meeting that we must respond to the crime of killing six hostages with "extraordinary power"; otherwise, we will witness more such killings. Netanyahu again defended his decision and that of his supportive ministers in the meeting on Thursday, September 8, regarding the necessity of the Israeli army's continued presence in the Philadelphi corridor in southern Gaza along the Egyptian border during the first six-week phase of any potential agreement with Hamas. Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defense Minister, was the only minister who insisted in the cabinet meeting on September 8 that the army's presence in the first six weeks of the agreement was not necessary, stating that the army could return to the Philadelphi corridor or any other point in Gaza whenever needed. According to Gallant, insisting on the army's continued presence in the first six weeks of the agreement in the Philadelphi corridor is akin to agreeing to the "execution" of hostages by Hamas. Just a few days after his stance, news emerged of the death of six young hostages in Gaza at the hands of Hamas forces. Gallant wrote on social media before the start of the cabinet meeting on Sunday that he requests cabinet members to annul the decision made on September 8 regarding the Philadelphi corridor. The Israeli army, in line with the defense minister's opinion, announced the end of a significant portion of its military mission in Gaza and emphasized that periodic operations in Gaza would still be feasible in the coming years. In this context, Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas's political bureau, stated on September 12 that no agreement would be reached as long as Israel remains in "Philadelphi," "Netsarim," and Gaza. However, according to Israeli media, Netanyahu stated in the Sunday evening meeting: "Are we going to change that decision after this horrific crime? Of course not. This is a war of survival against the Iranian axis." With the discovery of the bodies of the six hostages, who Hamas members killed "shortly before" Israeli forces arrived at a tunnel in the Rafah area of Gaza, the number of remaining hostages has now decreased from 250 to 101. The U.S. government, which along with the European Union considers Hamas a terrorist group, continues to condemn Hamas for killing the hostages and works alongside Egypt and Qatar to achieve an agreement between Israel and the group for a prisoner exchange.