The conflict in Gaza continues to shape the political landscape in Israel while affecting civilians on both sides. As fighting intensifies, the toll remains tragically high. In the most recent day, fatalities on the Palestinian side rose sharply, underscoring the grave human costs of the ongoing military operation. In Israel, public opinion increasingly reflects dissatisfaction with leadership, and current polling in the Likud faction suggests a potential shift in parliamentary seats if elections were held today. A Channel 13 survey portrays broad voter concern about the government’s management of hostages held in Gaza and about the path ahead in the crisis.
Reports circulated that the Netanyahu administration has explored a possible halt to hostilities in exchange for a large-scale hostage release. The plan centers on mediators in Qatar and Egypt coordinating a staged ceasefire that could extend for up to two months while negotiations continue. The pause would not end the conflict, but it would represent the longest pause offered to Hamas since the fighting began. Two Israeli officials described a multi-stage framework intended to stabilize the situation in the near term while political and security discussions proceed in parallel. [citation: Axios report]
Within Israel, street protests and institutional pressure intensify. Demonstrations against the Gaza campaign and calls for hostage releases persist, with many voices opposing Netanyahu. Polls point to a potential shift in power toward Benny Gantz of the National Unity party, who currently serves in the war cabinet. If Gantz were to become prime minister, parliamentary seats could rise significantly beyond present levels. Nir Barkat would likely gain in influence if he led Likud in this scenario, while the coalition would shift away from a full conservative and ultra-Orthodox majority in a 120-member parliament. [citation: internal polling]
Critics such as Itamar Ben Gvir, who heads the National Security portfolio, warned that a war pause would exclude him from a national government. Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister and leading advocate for the settlement movement, argued for a tougher military stance to secure the return of hostages and to uphold Israel as a sovereign Jewish state. [citation: policy discussion]
Disappointment of the USA and England
Families of hostages voice concern about their influence over events. Seventy-seven days into the war, the remaining captives in Gaza number in the dozens, some seized on October 7. Families arrived at parliamentary checkpoints with banners urging stronger efforts to secure their loved ones, and some have camped outside the prime minister’s residence demanding a change in direction and a renewed commitment to rescue efforts.
From London, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reaffirmed Britain’s support for a two-state approach as part of the peace process and urged concessions from both sides. A government spokesman stressed that lasting peace is likely tied to a negotiated two-state arrangement. Across the Atlantic, the White House has renewed outreach to the region through national security channels, signaling continued American diplomacy aimed at hostage negotiations and broader security questions. [citation: diplomatic briefings]
“We were caught between tanks”
Accounts from Gaza reveal the harsh realities on the ground. A resident of the largest internally displaced persons camp in southern Gaza, Jan Yunus, described the danger around hospitals, ambulances, and schools sheltering civilians. Soldiers identified the area as a safe zone, prompting residents to seek shelter once more. In the past day, the death toll neared two hundred, with thousands more injured as the siege persists into its third month. [citation: field reports]
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees notes a prolonged telecommunications outage, the longest since the conflict began. The disruption hinders access to vital information, complicates rescue efforts, and raises concerns about the ability of communities to contact lifelines for humanitarian aid. Aid workers and local authorities continue to race against time to deliver relief amid the ongoing crisis. These events underscore the fragility of civilian life under extended combat operations, a reality observed by many analysts and regional observers. [citation: UNRWA briefing]