War continuation, Israeli presence in Gaza a 'death sentence to hostages': Analysis

"The two are mutually incompatible," he told Al Jazeera.

This has been echoed by the families of the captives as well as experts, including former military and intelligence officials in Israel, Seidmann noted.

There is a "binary choice - end hostilities, withdraw from Gaza while receiving all of the hostages back", he said. "Any continuation of the war and any continuation of the Israeli presence in Gaza is a death sentence to the hostages."