Israeli analysts on various Israeli media channels criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continuing to deceive and fabricate excuses to prolong the war, doubting his willingness to hold the upcoming elections at the end of the year. Amos Harel, a military affairs analyst at Haaretz, said Israel has been managing negotiations for 22 months and has seen all of Netanyahu’s tricks. He noted Netanyahu always returns to the same narrative, pretending the hostages are not hungry in the tunnels and their families are not nearly going crazy with worry. Harel believes the situation will remain unchanged unless U.S. President Donald Trump intervenes and decides differently.

Eyal Berkowitz, a political program host on Channel 13, criticized Netanyahu’s stance, saying he only cares about himself, not the hostages or Gaza’s occupation, and is stalling until the November elections, which he might even cancel if possible. Berkowitz also criticized Trump’s statement that fewer than 20 hostages are alive, which caused panic among the hostages’ families. He said, “Trump babbles and Netanyahu (wanted by the International Criminal Court) babbles, while the hostages rot in Gaza.” He added that Israel is preparing for another war named “Gideon’s Vehicles 2,” calling it all lies and slogans.

Former Israeli National Security Council head Giora Eiland said the best current option is for Israel to accept the partial deal agreed upon by Hamas, which Netanyahu pursued for half a year against many opinions but now surprisingly rejects. Lior Lotan, former coordinator for prisoners and hostages in the Prime Minister’s Office, said Israel has no negotiation strategy; Hamas showed flexibility in some cases to reach a deal, but Israel not only refused to extend a hand but also retreated and rejected exploiting the opportunity.

Dr. Michal Milstein, head of Palestinian studies at Tel Aviv University, commented on a complex attack by Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, southeast of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, saying after 22 months in an area supposedly defeated, Hamas has shown its ability to recover and carry out operations.