How Israel is planning to re-occupy Gaza as ceasefire fails
What's the story
Israel is reportedly considering a long-term military strategy to retake Palestinian territory in Gaza to decisively defeat Hamas.
If the Israeli government approves the plan, it would represent a major policy shift and probably an extended military presence in Gaza, the Financial Times and Israeli media reported.
The proposal was initially developed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and has received informal support from far-right ministers pushing for more aggressive measures against Hamas.
Policy shift
A shift in US-Israel relations
Two insiders stated that the preparations were made possible by US President Donald Trump's return to the White House.
"The prior administration wanted us to end the war. Trump wants us to win the war," a third Israeli official said. "There is a supreme American interest in defeating Hamas as well."
The Financial Times (FT) speculates Trump's administration will be more supportive of Israel's aggressive military strategy than his predecessor Joe Biden.
Military plan
Proposed strategy for Gaza
The suggested military plan for Gaza includes a few steps.
Firstly, the IDF would send in combat divisions to re-enter and subdue Hamas.
Israel would then take control of large parts of the territory, restricting its population to a small humanitarian zone along the Mediterranean coast.
This would mean that the administration of Gaza would be taken over by the military, effectively bringing it back under Israeli control two decades after their 2005 withdrawal.
Impact assessment
Potential consequences of re-occupation
The proposed re-occupation plan could have severe implications. It would push millions of Palestinians into a small, barren land dependent on food aid.
Another insider claimed the military was considering possibilities such as giving aid directly or through private contractors to ensure Hamas did not benefit.
The strategy is being viewed as "completely different kind of fighting" by a senior military reservist who has been instructed to prepare for extended periods of "combat, victory and administration."
Plan
Reservists have been told to be prepared
The strategy, if adopted, would represent a "completely different kind of fighting," according to a senior military reserve quoted in the FT.
According to him, the reservists have been told to be prepared for extended periods of "combat, victory, and administration."
To date, Israel's strategy has centered on high-intensity battle, followed by multiple raids on various sections of the Gaza Strip to root out Hamas remnants before leaving.