American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, along with Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Carmel Gat, 40, Alex Lobanov, 32, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Ori Danino, 25, were ‘brutally murdered’ by Hamas terrorists right before rescue by the IDF. (Fox News)

A spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s Office told Fox News Digital in response: “The Israeli cabinet decided to move forward with the operation plan presented by the chief of staff himself.”

A recent Politico report quoted a source described as “close to the president’s national security team,” saying the Tuesday strike against Hamas’s leadership in Doha may have been an intentional move to hinder negotiations. “Every time they’re making progress, it seems like he [Netanyahu] bombs someone,” the source said in the report.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz attend a meeting on in June, 2025. (GPO)

The officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that both the IDF chief of staff and the Mossad director opposed the timing of the Qatar operation. “The plan was long in the works, but there was no reason to choose this specific timing instead of waiting to get Hamas’s response in the negotiations,” one said, adding that “that decision, as well as the decision to continue the Gaza operation, go against professional echelon advice.”

A second source familiar with cabinet deliberations confirmed the chief of staff reiterated his position last Friday and again yesterday in both the Security Cabinet and the Foreign Affairs and Defense subcommittee. “He has made clear that the Witkoff plan is a good one,” the source said, pointing to its terms: a 60-day Israeli withdrawal in exchange for the release of 10 live hostages and 15 bodies, with Israel free to resume fighting if Hamas violates the deal.