Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would make a "grave mistake" by agreeing to a deal with Hamas to stop the war and exchange prisoners, calling instead for the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the displacement of its population.

This came in an interview conducted on Sunday by the Hebrew newspaper "Maariv" with the extremist minister, head of the "Otzma Yehudit" party, against the backdrop of reports about an Israeli delegation traveling to the Egyptian capital next Thursday to resume negotiations.

Ben-Gvir claimed, "We are crushing Hamas, and I am not only listening to the opinions of the officials in the security cabinet, but also the field commanders."

He continued, asking: "Are we going now to the conference in Cairo to strengthen Hamas? It is a grave mistake on the part of the Prime Minister."

Ben Gvir considered that there is only one way to return the Israeli prisoners from Gaza, which is to "increase military efforts," adding: "But what is this nonsense that we go and sit with them?"

"Let's cut off their fuel, I've been saying that for more than 9 months," the Israeli National Security Minister continued.

Ben-Gvir claimed that if Israel cuts off fuel and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, "Hamas will surrender within two weeks."

He added: "Why are we suddenly turning to illegal deals? This is nonsense, a grave mistake and a major disaster."

He continued: "If we occupy the lands in the Gaza Strip and tell them that everything they did they will pay for in land, and we stop the entry of fuel, and encourage voluntary migration, I believe that in the end we can achieve complete victory. This is what we have done in the history of Israel not once and not twice, and we can do it again."

On Sunday morning, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that Netanyahu, under American pressure, is moving towards a deal with Hamas, "even if that means the fall of his government."

The newspaper added: "The kidnappers' summit, which will be held in four days, is seen as the absolute last chance to reach a ceasefire - not only in Gaza, but regionally as well."

It continued: “The region will be flooded next week with US officials trying to finalize all the details even before the meeting. Any gap that the two sides do not close by Thursday will be closed by a joint proposal from the mediators and the US. In other words: the White House will put a final mediation proposal on the table.”

Fears of a full-scale regional war are growing after Israel assassinated Hezbollah's senior military leader Fouad Shukr in an airstrike on Beirut on July 30, and the assassination of Hamas's political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, in an attack attributed to Tel Aviv despite the latter not claiming responsibility.

Both Iran and Hezbollah pledged a "strong and effective" response to the assassination of Shukr and Haniyeh, while regional contacts and moves continue to calm the situation and prevent the escalation of the situation in the region.