Trump told me 'forget partial deals, go in with full force,' Netanyahu tells security cabinet
"Our impression is that Netanyahu's opposition is genuine. He will not agree to a partial deal," ministers told The Jerusalem Post.
AUGUST 31, 2025 20:29
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that he opposes a partial Gaza hostage deal after meeting with his security cabinet on Sunday nights to discuss the next steps in the operation to take over Gaza City, as hostage families protested outside of the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.
In the meeting, Netanyahu told the security cabinet that the US administration also opposes a partial deal. "Forget the partial deals. Go in with full force. Finish it," Netanyahu quoted US President Donald Trump as saying, adding that Israel’s window of legitimacy from the international community is limited, and that pausing for a partial deal would harm the effort to destroy Hamas.
"Our impression is that Netanyahu's opposition is genuine. He will not agree to a partial deal," ministers said.
The discussion centered on the conquest of Gaza City, with the military presenting its plans. An Israeli official previously told The Jerusalem Post that the cabinet would not discuss the question of attempting to reach a partial deal or not.
Netanyahu rejects Ben-Gvir request to hold vote on partial deal
During the discussion, which lasted approximately six hours, the prime minister also rejected a request from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to vote on a declaration stating Israel would not pursue a partial deal."That’s irrelevant - we are only going for a full deal. We need to defeat Hamas," Netanyahu responded.
The Israeli security cabinet meets to discuss the full military takeover of the Gaza Strip. (credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO)Additional
ministers, in fact, the majority of the cabinet, also opposed a partial
deal. However, some including Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel and
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar expressed support. Sa’ar stated that his
position is influenced by Israel's difficult international standing and
increasing calls at the UN for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian
state.Top security officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, acting Shin Bet director 'S,' and Mossad director David Barnea, expressed support for a partial deal. Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai, Deputy Chief of Staff, argued during the meeting that Hamas would only surrender under conditions of total military conquest, with all the costs that would entail.
"I hear your positions, but ultimately, I decide - and you must fall in line," Netanyahu told ministers and security officials during the meeting.
Ministers later told The Jerusalem Post that even hardliners, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Missions Minister Orit Strock, were convinced that Netanyahu would not agree to a partial deal. "Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have fully internalized the principles and arguments against a partial deal, and have become the most effective advocates for the approach of 'decisive victory in Gaza, without stopping for a partial deal.'"
In light of the heavy opposition to a partial deal within the cabinet, Zamir concluded the cabinet meeting by saying: "Whatever the Cabinet decides, the army will execute it with excellence."
Officials left the meeting at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Monday morning. Maj.-Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, head of the IDF's Hostages Directorate, was not invited to the security cabinet meeting. The reason is that there will be no discussion regarding negotiations for a hostage deal.
Hostage families call for cabinet to negotiate a deal
On Sunday, family members of the hostages in Gaza gathered outside the IDF headquarters to demand that the cabinet reach a hostage deal."Your refusal to discuss the details of the deal currently on the negotiation table represents an irreversible loss," the statement said.
"Sit down at the negotiating table now and don't get up until a viable agreement is reached for the return of every last hostage."
"What exactly is this Cabinet convening for? I really want to ask you, Benjamin Netanyahu. Your Cabinet members boast - they actually boast - about thwarting deals that were on the table," Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker.
"Now there is a deal on the table. Instead of taking it and leveraging it into a comprehensive agreement that would guarantee the return of the hostages - both the living and the deceased - and end the war, what are you convening for now?"
Anna Barsky and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.