Inside Netanyahu’s Gamble to Survive Hamas (or Die Trying)

The next two months are do-or-die, and Netanyahu’s got a secret plan that’s just come to light, according to Maariv journalist Avi Ashkenazi. The IDF’s ready to go hard in Gaza, ramping up the fight to free 58 hostages held by Hamas. A military insider, per Ashkenazi, says the brass is all-in, planning to hit harder, grab territory, and squeeze the population into smaller zones while funneling aid around Hamas.

The goal is to make Hamas see it’s got no choice but to let the hostages go. Forget “destroying” Hamas, that’s just talk. It’s a jihadist outfit dead-set on wiping out Israel and Jews, but right now, it can’t pull it off.

Hamas still has plenty up its sleeve: miles of tunnels, rockets, recruits, and cash pouring in from Arab and Western donors. When this war’s done, they’ll try to rebuild, no question. The IDF’s betting on a two-month push to either force Hamas to cut a deal or go in even harder.

Meanwhile, a top Likud guy spilled the tea Saturday night: Netanyahu’s playing a brutal political game to keep his government from collapsing. He’s got two headaches. First, the ultra-Orthodox are antsy about the draft law, so he’s throwing them big bucks in the 2026 budget to keep them quiet through the Knesset’s spring session. Second, the far-right, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, are pushing for total control of Gaza and no deals that free terrorists or pause the war.

Netanyahu’s gotta survive till July 24, when the Knesset breaks for a long summer recess. During that time, no one can topple his government, giving him room to maybe cut a hostage deal without his coalition imploding.

The military’s two-month plan lines up eerily with this political chess move. I’m not sure how tight the war and politics are tied, but this needs to be out there for people to chew on. One thing’s clear: as long as Hamas is kicking in Gaza, Israel’s gotta keep hitting it hard, stopping it from rebuilding. Long-term? Someone’s gotta step in and run Gaza like a real government.