Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the military on Friday to map out a plan for "the complete defeat of Hamas in Gaza" if the latter group does not agree to a new ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal before United States President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
According to the statement the Foreign Ministry sent to the media after the previous day's meeting between its head and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Katz asked the army leadership 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."
Katz stressed returning the hostages as a priority while claiming that "the matter of the political solution to Gaza is not relevant" now as no one "will take responsibility for managing civilian life in Gaza as long as Hamas is not completely crushed."