By: Fern Sidman

As international pressure mounts for a ceasefire in Gaza, key figures in Israel’s governing coalition are warning that any post-war arrangement must satisfy three non-negotiable criteria: the return of all hostages, the complete dismantling of Hamas as a military and political entity, and the neutralization of Gaza as a threat to Israeli security. In statements to the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), senior ministers and members of Knesset made clear that any deviation from these conditions would jeopardize the integrity of the current coalition and undermine Israel’s long-term security interests.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi laid out the government’s red lines in a Sunday interview with JNS. “Three essential goals must be achieved,” Karhi said. “First, the return of all hostages; second, the elimination of Hamas’s governing and military capabilities; and third, ensuring that the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to the State of Israel.”

Karhi also signaled openness to an idea floated by President Donald Trump — the potential resettlement of willing Gazans in other countries — calling it “a significant and worthwhile initiative that should also be pursued.”

Trump, who has taken a proactive stance in brokering an end to the conflict, reiterated his call for a hostage release on his Truth Social platform over the weekend: “Make the deal in Gaza. Get the hostages back!!!” According to the information provided in the JNS report, Trump later told reporters at the White House, “I think it’s close. I just spoke to some of the people involved. We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire.”

While the Trump administration’s diplomatic efforts have been met with cautious optimism in some corners of the Israeli political establishment, others remain deeply skeptical. MK Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism Party warned that his faction would withdraw from the coalition if any agreement permits Hamas to retain power. “If it means surrendering to Hamas, we will not be part of it,” Sukkot told JNS. “If there is no longer any Hamas presence and there is no longer any threat to the State of Israel, everyone will be happy. But if the threat remains, we will not allow it to happen, and it will not happen.”

Likud MK Shalom Danino acknowledged Trump’s influence in urging a resolution, calling the president’s objectives “important and noble,” but reaffirmed that Israel’s security must remain paramount. “This is an important and noble goal, and it certainly is in line with the Israeli interest,” Danino said. However, he added, “a ceasefire can only be considered viable if three key conditions are met: the release of all hostages, Hamas’s removal from power, and a neutralized Gaza.”

According to the information contained in the JNS report, this consensus extends across significant portions of the Knesset, even among opposition members. MK Moshe Tur-Paz of Yesh Atid indicated that his party would support the Netanyahu government if a ceasefire agreement includes meaningful guarantees. “We, the opposition, if this happens, will provide backup,” he said. “If this does not happen, we may continue to be dragged into this conflict and pay a heavy price in the lives of soldiers while getting nowhere.”

Tur-Paz proposed a multi-pronged approach, including continued IDF control of key strategic zones such as the Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, and the establishment of a new governing authority with Arab and Palestinian Authority involvement. Notably, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected any post-war role for Mahmoud Abbas’s PA in Gaza, citing concerns over corruption and complicity in incitement.

“We must not return to failed paradigms,” Netanyahu said in a recent cabinet meeting, according to JNS sources.

Yet even among Netanyahu’s most loyal coalition members, anxiety is growing over the delicate balancing act between securing hostages and maintaining military momentum. MK Zvika Fogel, who serves as parliamentary whip for the right-wing Otzma Yehudit Party, told JNS that his party might be willing to tolerate a temporary ceasefire if the terms include a full hostage release and a guaranteed IDF reentry window. “If a ceasefire results in the return of all the hostages — without exception — and the IDF can resume fighting within a defined timeframe of up to 60 days, it’s a difficult deal, but one we could accept,” he said.

Still, Fogel cautioned against declaring a premature end to hostilities. “Ending the war at this stage would send a dangerous message to all our enemies, that we are weak, and could become an existential threat to the State of Israel,” he said. “If such a decision is indeed made, we will reconsider our position” regarding remaining in the coalition.

As reported by JNS, internal coalition discussions over the weekend were tense, with ministers divided between those prioritizing humanitarian diplomacy and those advocating for the continuation of Operation Iron Swords until Hamas is decisively eliminated. The Israeli Cabinet remains deeply aware of the public’s dual demands: to bring home the hostages and to ensure that Gaza never again serves as a launching pad for terror against Israeli civilians.

Karhi summed up the strategic calculus succinctly in his interview with JNS: “There can be no illusions — Hamas must be eradicated. If not, we are only delaying the next war. Our red lines are not rhetorical; they are existential.”

With pressure mounting from Washington, and Israeli troops still deployed across the Gaza Strip, the coming week may prove to be one of the most consequential in the post-October 7 war era. Whether Trump’s diplomacy succeeds in unlocking a workable ceasefire — or whether Israel’s security conditions forestall any deal — the decisions made now are likely to shape the trajectory of the region for years to come.

And as the JNS report indicated, it is increasingly evident that this is not merely a war over territory or politics. It is a test of principles — sovereignty, deterrence, and the sacred duty to protect one’s people.