Benjamin Netanyahu to convene urgent security consultation - here's why

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene an urgent security consultation with defense chiefs in the next 24 hours, in order to map out areas where the IDF can attack without endangering the hostages, according to Channel 12 reporter Yaron Avraham.

According to the report, Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold an urgent security consultation in the next 24 hours, and this consultation - unlike previous ones - is not due to some new development in hostage negotiations but rather an Israeli effort to map and understand where attacks can be carried out in the Gaza Strip without risking the lives of hostages.

Avraham said that the defense establishment emphasizes that all attacks carried out so far have been in places where it is known there are no hostages, but at the same time, the warning he hears that was passed to the political level in the preliminary discussions is that there is no absolute certainty, and that Israel must take into account that hostages could be harmed as part of the return to fire. "There is always the component that we don't know," warn the professionals dealing with this.

The Israeli government has also reportedly decided to continue with attacks in the Gaza Strip in various areas, unless Hamas signals it is ready to release hostages. Israel is not satisfied with just informing the mediators in initial negotiations, but wants a genuine and solid readiness to release hostages on the part of Hamas.

Public Israeli statements mentioned the Witkoff outline that includes the release of at least 10 living hostages and 11 deceased. Israel has also negotiated for less than this, but only an agreement to release hostages will now stop the fire.

If Hamas in the coming days does not show the required flexibility, senior Israeli sources told Channel 12 tonight, the fire will intensify, and the operation now defined as "limited" will expand and intensify.