American reports, citing informed sources, stated: “Whitkoff’s trip to Spain was part of an intense diplomatic activity aimed at thwarting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to expand his attack on Gaza and seize the city of Gaza.” The American site quoted an Israeli official as saying that “Benjamin Netanyahu’s government does not oppose working towards a final plan with the United States, but Hamas will not accept it.” The Israeli official confirmed that the plan approved by the Security Cabinet yesterday to occupy Gaza “will not be implemented immediately,” noting that no timeline has been set for the plan’s execution, “allowing time to reach a diplomatic solution.” He mentioned that “Netanyahu left the door ajar for the possibility of halting the military operation in Gaza if negotiations resume with the aim of reaching an agreement.” The news of the meeting comes after reports that mediators (Egypt, Qatar, and the United States) are conducting intensive and extensive contacts with Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement in an attempt to reach an agreement before a new full-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza City occurs.
