Growing anticipation of some greater involvement in the Palestinian enclave comes as Israel’s military operation leaves its war aims unfulfilled.

“We do not give up on freeing the hostages, we do not give up on defeating the enemy in Gaza, and we do not stop until the threat is removed,” Netanyahu wrote on X. Hamas released videos of Israelis Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, both hostages who appeared emaciated.

Freed hostages have recounted the terror of languishing in a Hamas tunnel while the blasts from Israeli air strikes move ever closer.