Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that his government will determine the nature of its upcoming actions in the Gaza Strip in coordination with the so-called "Peace Council", a few days after his expansionist statements in which he explicitly hinted at Tel Aviv's intention to extend its control over larger areas within the Strip.
"We must decide when to take action in Gaza, and we will determine its type with the Peace Council," Netanyahu said in a decisive tone, in a move that observers see as an attempt to legitimize and pass the new occupation plans, while the council remained silent and issued no immediate comment.
Washington repudiates Netanyahu's plan in Gaza
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his participation in a session of the US House of Representatives subcommittee on Tuesday evening, confirmed that the Israeli plan to control 70% of the Gaza Strip is not part of President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in the Strip.
In response to a question from Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLoro, he said that Washington does not adopt this proposal and does not consider it consistent with the common vision to end the war, explaining that the US administration has a clear plan for Gaza, and that it does not include any additional Israeli military expansion inside the Strip.
This American position comes in light of the escalating controversy over Netanyahu's latest plan, in which he officially announced the army's directive to expand and control 70% of Gaza's territory, compared to the 60% it currently controls, a move that Hamas considered "torpedo of the ceasefire agreement."
Escaping the "screaming call" with Trump
Netanyahu, during a television interview with CNBC, appeared besieged and unable to deny when asked about the backstage of what the Hebrew media described as the stormy "screaming call" that brought him together with US President Donald Trump on Monday night. Netanyahu avoided answering directly about Trump's insults directed at him and the US president's scathing statement that Netanyahu "would have been imprisoned if it wasn't for his intervention."
Confronted with reports that Trump called him "crazy," Netanyahu evaded saying, "I'm not going to go into details," trying to downplay the diplomatic humiliation as merely "tactical disagreements happening even within families," preferring to focus on what he said were common goals of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and expanding the circle of regional normalization.
On Tuesday, Israeli media reported that Trump felt Netanyahu was "losing control" and jeopardizing negotiations with Iran, leading to the recent "horrific call" between them.
Trump's call came hours after a massive displacement in Beirut's southern suburbs in anticipation of Israeli strikes after Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz revealed in a joint statement on Monday that they had ordered the army to attack the suburb.
Trump admits to using profanity with Netanyahu
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that his phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening was "highly tense" and that he used "harsh terms and direct criticism."
In an interview with the New York Post, Trump admitted that he had told Netanyahu phrases such as, "Are you crazy?" He added that he was "disturbed by his ongoing fighting in Lebanon," but at the same time stressed that the relationship between them is "very good" and that he "admires him."
Iranian reports had spoken of Tehran's suspension of talks with Washington due to the Israeli escalation in Lebanon, and Tel Aviv's threat to resume strikes on the southern suburbs.
Netanyahu attacks European leaders
On Iran, Netanyahu described the current cautious calm as just a "tactical game," noting that Tel Aviv and Washington are waiting to see if Tehran wants to return to another round of fighting.
Netanyahu claimed that the Iranian regime is fully aware of the seriousness of Trump's warnings to return to the option of war "if necessary," boasting that joint U.S. and Israeli forces are ready to take on this possibility at any time.
During the interview, Netanyahu claimed that when Israel fights Iran, it is "fighting war for Europe," and lashed out at European leaders who have criticized Israeli military operations, including French President Emmanuel Macron, and said, "The way European leaders are courting radical Islamic minorities in their countries is shameful."
"They know that we are defending them too, but they don't have the courage to stand on the right side," he added, touching on the normalization agreements, saying: "We surprised everyone with these agreements, there is another chance for peace. The geopolitical situation is changing, and countries are turning to us and wanting peace," he claimed.
Israeli Chief of Staff Threatens to Strike Iran 'Immediately'
Israel's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, announced on Wednesday that his country's army was ready to resume war and military confrontation against Iran "immediately," in a move that appeared to be a direct attempt to cover up the "shouting and reprimand" that Benjamin Netanyahu received from US President Donald Trump.
Zamir's sharp remarks came during an official inspection of the Israeli naval base in Haifa, where he sent a clear message of defiance: "The IDF, with all its arms, is ready to immediately return to fighting against the Iranian regime."
Zamir claimed that the navy has the decisive capability to strike Iran as it has done in the past, demonstrating power at a very critical political time, according to experts.