Fierce debate erupts in Israel as Trump reportedly considers declaring the Gaza war over—right-wing leaders demand Hamas’s destruction, while opposition pushes for closure tied to a hostage deal.
The Israeli political spectrum erupted Saturday night following reports that US President Donald Trump may soon announce an end to the war in Gaza—without Israel securing an outright victory over Hamas.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued a fiery warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “You have no mandate to end the war without a complete defeat of Hamas.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has echoed this hardline stance in recent weeks, insisting that only Hamas’s elimination guarantees Israel’s security.
But others struck a different tone. Opposition leader Yair Lapid revealed that he assured the US administration Netanyahu would have his backing to finalize a hostage deal and bring the war to a close: “This has a majority in the Knesset and among the public. There’s no need to be swayed by the empty threats of Ben Gvir and Smotrich.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar urged trust in Netanyahu’s handling of talks with Trump, arguing Israel’s “clear national interest is to end the war while achieving its objectives.” Ultra-Orthodox leader Moshe Gafni (Degel Hatorah) also threw support behind winding down the war, emphasizing the urgent priority of returning hostages.
After two years of brutal conflict, the debate exposes Israel’s political fault lines: the nationalist right insists on nothing short of Hamas’s destruction, while centrists and moderates push for closure tied to humanitarian gains. Trump’s next move—and Netanyahu’s response—could set the trajectory for Israel’s security and politics for a generation.
