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Israeli Defense Minister Orders Army Plan for ‘Complete Defeat of Hamas’

Israeli soldiers are seen in a tunnel that the military says was used by Hamas to attack the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, December 15, 2023. (AP)
Israeli soldiers are seen in a tunnel that the military says was used by Hamas to attack the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, December 15, 2023. (AP)
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Israeli Defense Minister Orders Army Plan for ‘Complete Defeat of Hamas’

Israeli soldiers are seen in a tunnel that the military says was used by Hamas to attack the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, December 15, 2023. (AP)
Israeli soldiers are seen in a tunnel that the military says was used by Hamas to attack the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, December 15, 2023. (AP)

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday directed the military to quickly prepare a comprehensive plan for the total defeat of Hamas in Gaza if ongoing ceasefire talks fail to secure the release of hostages by the time incoming US president Donald Trump enters the White House on January 20.

Katz said his instruction to present the plans came Thursday during a night assessment with Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and other top officers.

“We must not be drawn into a war of attrition that will cost us heavily and not lead to victory and the complete strategic defeat of Hamas and the end of the war in Gaza, while the hostages remain in the tunnels with their lives in danger and while they suffer severely,” Katz said.

The Israeli minister then asked the Army to “specify the issues that might make it difficult to carry out the plan, including the humanitarian issue and other issues, and leave it to the political echelon to make the necessary decisions,” according to a statement by his office.

He also “emphasized that the matter of the political solution to Gaza is not relevant to the issue of the plan and the activity required now, because no Arab or other party will take responsibility for managing civilian life in Gaza as long as Hamas is not completely crushed.”

It remains unclear what Israel means by “complete defeat.” Israel had set two main goals through its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip: The elimination of Hamas's military infrastructure and the end of the group’s rule in the Strip.

Israeli military correspondent for the Israeli Army Radio Doron Kadosh said Katz believes the army has not yet acted properly to defeat Hamas, and has been dragged into a war of attrition.

“It remains unclear what plan the Army will present to Katz with the aim of completely defeating Hamas. But in closed discussions, the Army clearly states that in the absence of an alternative to Hamas’ rule, it would be impossible to overthrow the Movement.”

According to Kadosh, the Army could possibly deploy three more military units in the Gaza Strip, with a mission to carry out a ground maneuver simultaneously in several areas.

Similar to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Katz believes there is currently no room for Israel to present an alternative to Hamas rule in Gaza.

The Israeli army fears that a plan to defeat Hamas based on deepening its ground maneuvers in areas in the middle of the Strip could lead to the deaths of hostages. Therefore, the army most likely would focus on changing its aid policy in the Strip.

Israel is considering limiting humanitarian aid to Gaza after Donald Trump comes into office later this month in a bid to deprive Hamas of resources, according to an Israeli official familiar with the matter.

Doha talks

Meanwhile in the Qatari capital, Doha, meditators are trying to push for a deal before the arrival of Trump, who warned that “all hell will break out in the Middle East” if Hamas does not release the hostages by the time he is inaugurated.

Sources say mediators are making real progress in reaching a deal, but some issues still need to be resolved.

The Israeli government's hostage and missing persons coordinator, Brig. Gen. Gal Hirsch said on Thursday that the deal being discussed would include the return of all the hostages. However, he noted that it would be implemented in stages.

The official explained that the discussions that are currently being conducted pertain only to the first stage of the deal.

Sources familiar with the details of the deal told Yedioth Ahronoth the negotiations are not at an impasse despite the challenges.

They noted that talks are progressing, but every resolved issue leads Hamas to reopen previously agreed matters.

Additionally, communication difficulties between Hamas’ external leadership and its de facto leader in Gaza Mohammed Sinwar are reportedly complicating the process.

The newspaper said Hamas has so far refused to provide a list of live hostages and mediators are working to bridge this gap.

Israel continues to insist that no progress can be made without such a list.

Moreover, the newspaper wrote, Hamas' refusal to disclose in advance who among the hostages on the list provided by Israel to mediators in July is alive or dead is seen by officials as a tactic to maximize Palestinian prisoner releases in exchange for as few live hostages as possible.

Conversely, a senior Palestinian official told Reuters that Israel has introduced a new condition, insisting on maintaining a one-kilometer-wide military presence in the eastern and southern parts of Gaza, along the Philadelphi Corridor.

“This will hinder residents from returning to their homes and constitutes a backtrack on previously agreed terms,” the official claimed.

Yedioth Ahronoth said mediators and Israel now hope the presence of Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Qatar might inject fresh momentum, pressuring Hamas to realize that Trump is serious about his threats against them if the hostages aren’t released.

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Arab World

Rubio’s Shift on Extremist Settlers Raises Israeli Concerns

A Palestinian holds burnt Qur’an pages after a settler attack on Hajjah Hamidah mosque  in the village of Istiya, near Salfit, in the occupied West Bank (AFP)
A Palestinian holds burnt Qur’an pages after a settler attack on Hajjah Hamidah mosque  in the village of Istiya, near Salfit, in the occupied West Bank (AFP)
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Rubio’s Shift on Extremist Settlers Raises Israeli Concerns

A Palestinian holds burnt Qur’an pages after a settler attack on Hajjah Hamidah mosque  in the village of Istiya, near Salfit, in the occupied West Bank (AFP)
A Palestinian holds burnt Qur’an pages after a settler attack on Hajjah Hamidah mosque  in the village of Istiya, near Salfit, in the occupied West Bank (AFP)

Despite a softer tone, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent criticism of deadly settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank has raised concerns within Israeli government circles, where officials described it as “worrying and requiring careful handling to prevent it from hardening into an anti-settlement stance.”

A political source told Israel’s Channel 12 on Thursday that “Rubio’s linking of extremist settler attacks to President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, and his expressed concern that these attacks may be a deliberate attempt to sabotage our work in Gaza, indicates that Washington does not intend to allow any obstacles to the plan’s implementation.”

The source added that “Israel should stop its current approach, which focuses on minutiae in Gaza, and instead concentrate on core issues and coordination with the US administration so that, in the end, the plan aligns with Israeli policy and does not lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state as the Arabs hope.”

Notable tone after sanctions were lifted

Rubio struck a notable tone when expressing US concern over attacks by armed settler militias of around 100 people on several Palestinian villages on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.

The assailants burned cars and homes, opened fire, and later set fire to a military vehicle and attacked some soldiers.

Speaking on Wednesday evening at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Canada, Rubio said that Washington did not expect sabotage of the Gaza plan to happen and that it was working to ensure it does not.

Rubio’s statement marked the first time a Trump administration official had openly condemned settlers, prompting Israeli officials to link it to his previous remarks in October before his visit to Israel.

At that time, he warned against Knesset legislation expanding Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank, saying it could threaten the existing ceasefire in Gaza.

The Trump administration began its term by lifting, in January, US Treasury Department sanctions on dozens of extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank under an executive order signed by Trump, reversing predecessor Joe Biden’s measures targeting those involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Mosque vandalized in the West Bank

Settler attacks continued on Thursday, when they vandalized the Hajjah Hamidah Mosque located between the towns of Deir Istiya and Kifl Haris west of Salfit in northern West Bank. Parts of the mosque were set on fire, and racist and aggressive slogans were scrawled on its walls.

Official settler bodies attempted to distance themselves from the attacks, claiming the perpetrators were “a group of rogue anarchists who do not represent the settlements but tarnish their reputation.”

This narrative appeared to gain traction in Israel, adopted by military leaders and several ministers, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained silent as of Thursday evening.

Armed settler militias number over 2,000, supported by settlement leaders and enjoying strong protection from the Israeli army, along with substantial political backing from ministers including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a deputy defense minister overseeing settlers and settlements.

These armed groups serve as a support force for settlement leadership, establishing new outposts that Smotrich then retroactively legalizes under Israel’s expansionist laws.

According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Palestinians in the West Bank faced more than 2,350 attacks in October alone, including over 1,500 carried out directly by the Israeli army and around 850 by settler militias.

Such attacks threaten to undermine political efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including Trump’s plan, as settlers, not only militias, strongly oppose the creation of a Palestinian state.

The extremists have voiced clear reservations about Trump’s plan but refrain from attacking it, hoping Palestinians will reject or sabotage it. They view the Trump era as a historic opportunity to annex the West Bank, or at least significant portions of it, to Israel.

Arab World

France Sends Message of Support to Lebanon on Stability, Army

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun receives French presidential adviser Anne-Claire Legendre (Lebanese Presidency)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun receives French presidential adviser Anne-Claire Legendre (Lebanese Presidency)
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France Sends Message of Support to Lebanon on Stability, Army

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun receives French presidential adviser Anne-Claire Legendre (Lebanese Presidency)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun receives French presidential adviser Anne-Claire Legendre (Lebanese Presidency)

Adviser to the French president on Middle East and North Africa Anne-Claire Legendre carried a message of support from President Emmanuel Macron to Beirut on Thursday, reaffirming France’s backing for stability in southern Lebanon and for activating the Quintet Committee tasked with implementing the ceasefire “mechanism.”

She also relayed France’s efforts to push for de-escalation by Israel and to prepare two upcoming conferences, one to support the Lebanese army and another for reconstruction.

During her meetings with Lebanese officials, Legendre met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who told her that the main obstacle preventing full army deployment south of the Litani River to the international border remains Israel’s continued occupation of Lebanese land and its daily hostilities, as well as the lack of implementation of the agreement announced in November 2024.

Despite the attacks, Aoun said, “the army continues to implement the security plan south of the Litani with precision by seizing weapons and ammunition, uncovering tunnels and depots, and extending state authority in accordance with Resolution 1701.”

He stressed that “Israel’s claims about army shortcomings are baseless,” noting that around 12 soldiers had been killed in recent missions.

Aoun said the army “enjoys the trust of the Lebanese and represents the first line of defense for southern residents,” but added that moral support was not enough. “The army needs equipment and military vehicles, which the Paris-led conference to support the armed forces, held in coordination with Washington and Riyadh, is expected to secure,” he said.

Reconstruction Needs

The president underlined the urgent need for reconstruction in the south, saying that “the return of residents to their villages cannot happen while Israeli attacks continue.”

He pointed to the recent shelling of the border town of Blida, which hit civilian and government facilities.

Aoun expressed surprise that some countries had adopted Israel’s narrative accusing Lebanon of failing to honor the November 2024 agreement, saying they “ignore Israel’s ongoing violations and its determination to undermine the will of the international community, particularly that of the ceasefire’s sponsors, France and the United States.”

He also highlighted the “growing trust between the army and the residents of southern villages,” especially as the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL is set to begin withdrawing in early 2026, when the Lebanese army will assume full security responsibility after its ranks grow to around 10,000 troops by the end of this year.

He noted “geographical challenges faced by army units in an area full of valleys and forests, which require additional support.” “Negotiation Is the Key to Stability”

Responding to Legendre’s questions, Aoun said the negotiation option he announced weeks ago “could restore stability to southern Lebanon and the country as a whole, since continued aggression will lead nowhere.”

He added that “similar experiences in other countries have shown that negotiation is always the sustainable solution to futile wars.”

He emphasized that “foreign support from Lebanon’s brothers and friends, especially France and the United States, could yield positive results,” adding that the “mechanism committee” could serve as one of the frameworks to sponsor such talks.

Meeting with Berri

From Baabda, Legendre headed to Ain el-Tineh, where she met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The two discussed developments in the south, the escalating border tensions, and internal political issues, as well as Lebanese-French relations and ways to strengthen them at this stage, according to a parliament statement.

Visit to the Grand Serail

In the third leg of her visit, Legendre met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail.

She reaffirmed France’s “sincere support for the government’s efforts to implement reforms and advance negotiations with the International Monetary Fund,” describing an IMF deal as “a key step toward restoring financial and economic stability.”

Salam, pictured with the French delegation headed by Legendre, said reform was “a national choice before being an international commitment.”

He stressed that the government was “working seriously to finalize the required measures, foremost among them the financial gap draft law, which is nearing completion and will soon be referred to parliament, along with strengthened financial controls.”

The meeting also touched on the situation in the south, with Salam stressing the need “to end this escalation that threatens regional stability and hinders national recovery efforts.”

Legendre reiterated that France “stands by Lebanon and is working with international partners to help consolidate stability in the south.”

Arab World

Why Did the US Delegation Exclude Lebanon’s Shiite Officials?

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets US Treasury delegation in Beirut on Monday (Lebanese Government Presidency)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets US Treasury delegation in Beirut on Monday (Lebanese Government Presidency)
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Why Did the US Delegation Exclude Lebanon’s Shiite Officials?

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets US Treasury delegation in Beirut on Monday (Lebanese Government Presidency)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets US Treasury delegation in Beirut on Monday (Lebanese Government Presidency)

Political observers in Lebanon have taken note of the US Treasury delegation’s decision to exclude Shiite officials from its meetings in Beirut earlier this week.

The exclusion came even though some of the Shiite officials are directly involved, by virtue of their positions, in implementing Washington’s demands that Lebanon curb Hezbollah’s financing channels and enforce the state’s monopoly on arms through legislation and executive measures.

US delegation meets top Lebanese officials

The American delegation, led by Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka, included Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI) John Hurley and White House National Security Council counterterrorism specialist Rudolph Atallah.

During their visit to Beirut, they met President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Justice Minister Adel Nassar, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, and Central Bank Governor Karim Souaid.

The delegation also met Kataeb Party leader and lawmaker Sami Gemayel, and attended a dinner hosted by MP Fouad Makhzoumi with a group of parliamentarians.

However, the delegation notably excluded Shiite officials. It did not meet Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri — the country’s second-highest official, a key Hezbollah ally and the group’s long-time interlocutor with foreign delegations — nor Finance Minister Yassin Jaber.

No Shiite figures were present at any of the official meetings, including First Vice Governor of the Central Bank Wassim Mansouri, who was absent from the session held with Governor Souaid.

‘No boycott,’ says Shiite bloc

Sources familiar with the visit’s schedule said most meetings were held privately between the delegation and Lebanese officials, including Central Bank Governor Souaid, who met the visitors alone without the presence of senior banking oversight officials, in what they described as an effort to downplay any sectarian undertones.

Sources from the Shiite political alliance known as the “duo” — Hezbollah and the Amal Movement — also dismissed the idea of a boycott. “The delegation met with officials relevant to its mission,” one source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The claim of a boycott is inaccurate, as the delegation met Finance Minister Yassin Jaber during the dinner hosted by MP Makhzoumi, which was also attended by another Shiite MP. That confirms there was no boycott.”

Symbolism and political messages

Yet, political analysts say the exclusion carried symbolic weight, noting that the delegation did not seek an appointment with Speaker Berri as visiting US officials typically do, nor did it request a meeting with the finance minister at his office.

That, according to some Lebanese officials following the visit, suggested a political message — one directed at Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer.

“The exclusion signals that the Americans are deliberately avoiding all Shiite officials, regardless of political affiliation,” one ministerial source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“This was met with a quick response from Iran through Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who on the same day rejected any new negotiations with Israel and refused to discuss surrendering weapons north of the Litani River, saying the agreement applies only to the south.”

Lebanon as a messaging arena

According to the same sources, the issue is “not about boycotting the Shiites, but rather that Lebanon has become a stage for message exchanges — with Washington sending signals and Tehran responding through Hezbollah.”

The sources said this dynamic is not new: “The United States has long sought to push Iran out of Lebanon and force it to relinquish its influence here. Lebanese officials first heard this stance during Donald Trump’s first presidential term in 2017, when the White House insisted Iran must come to the table to discuss its regional role. Ten years later, the message is the same: Washington wants Iran’s hand lifted off Lebanon.”

US-Berri contacts persist

Since the last decade, when pressure mounted on Iran and Hezbollah, Washington has drawn a line between Lebanese Shiites as citizens and Hezbollah as an organization.

US sanctions have targeted individuals it views as part of Hezbollah’s financial or military apparatus, while communication channels with Lebanese officials remained open — particularly through Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

Speaker Berri himself has sent parliamentary delegations to Washington since 2015 for meetings with members of Congress, maintaining an official dialogue that continues to this day.

Finance Minister Yassin Jaber has also made at least two visits to Washington since joining the cabinet, most recently last month, when he met representatives of the US Treasury Department. In Beirut, he has received multiple American, IMF, and World Bank delegations.

According to parliamentary sources who attended Makhzoumi’s dinner, Jaber delivered a 10-minute briefing to the US delegation outlining the government’s and parliament’s measures to “stabilize the monetary economy, tighten customs controls at airports, seaports, and land borders with Syria, and enhance supervision of money transfer companies.”

He also stressed that “executive reforms are progressing,” while the political aspects of implementation “remain under discussion with the president.”