The Israeli military asserts its latest strikes on Gaza are part of a gradual operation, with potential for further escalation, to secure the release of hostages. This has led to international criticism, including from close allies like the UK, and calls for a ceasefire from the UN. Domestically, Israel is divided, with some concerned about the hostages' safety, while others, like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, support the military path. The long-term fate of the 59 hostages, 24 of whom are still alive, remains uncertain. Jonathan Regev reports from Tel Aviv.
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00:00Yes, Jamie, this is exactly what the Israeli army is saying and the messages coming out
00:06of the Israeli government from the Prime Minister on to the Defense Minister and the Chief of
00:12Staff is that Israel is now in a gradual military operation, meaning there are further steps
00:19escalating the magnitude of this operation if there will be no resumption of negotiations
00:26along the Witkow Plan, the Witkow Plan which calls for the release of some 11 living hostages
00:31and 16 hostage bodies. Israel is saying that if this does not happen then things will escalate
00:37and therefore in some areas of Gaza, residents have been told to evacuate once again further
00:43inland into the city, especially from the areas closer to the Israeli border to the
00:49east of the Gaza Strip, further into Gaza City, further into Hanunis. As far as Israel
00:56is concerned this is just the beginning and this military operation will only escalate
01:01further.
01:02And what's the reaction from within the country and internationally?
01:11So internationally we're speaking of a lot of criticism, there's support from the United
01:17States but that's pretty much it. Even the UK, a close ally of Israel, is calling for
01:23an urgent return to ceasefire, of course also calls to stop the military operation coming
01:29from the United Nations. Within the country, as everything, Israel is very divided. On
01:34the one hand stands the opposition with hostage families who are very much concerned that
01:39this military operation will have an effect on the hostages remaining in Gaza. Some of
01:44them spoke this morning of their concerns, let's listen.
01:47We care about the hostages. As far as they're concerned, if we are not here, if we don't
01:53remind them about it, as far as they're concerned the hostages can stay there. For them it's
01:59their burden because all they want is to keep their chair, is to keep themselves in power.
02:06I have no idea what is going to happen to the remaining hostages if the fighting keeps
02:13on going for the following weeks. It's an absolute disaster.
02:21So hostage families and their supporters are very much concerned as we've heard. On the
02:26other hand, there are many supporters of the move within the Israeli cabinet. Not surprisingly
02:32we're speaking of the far right ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and the former and the incoming
02:38minister of national security, Tamar Ben-Gvir, who left the government some two months ago
02:43when the ceasefire was declared. He will return to government, be appointed again as minister
02:48of national security probably tomorrow. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich saying that this is the right
02:53path. Only military pressure will defeat Hamas, will bring the hostages back according to
02:59Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. On the other hand, we heard a lot of concern for the remaining
03:0459 hostages. At least 24 of them are alive and no one knows what this operation will
03:09mean for their fate.
03:10Jonathan, thank you for that. Our correspondent Jonathan Regev in Tel Aviv.