WASHINGTON, February 27. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has developed several options of resuming combat in the Gaza Strip if the ceasefire regime is not extended, The Washington Post (WP) said, citing sources among Israeli officials.

According to their information, the new plan provides for "fighting with greater intensity and with a particular focus on preventing humanitarian aid from being siphoned off by" the Gaza-based Palestinian group Hamas. Within the framework of these preparations, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military "to explore plans to potentially control and distribute humanitarian aid flowing into" the Gaza Strip. That said, the sources noted that his predecessor Yoav Gallant resisted the idea "on operational and legal grounds."

That said, Ibrahim Madhoun, a Gazan analyst close to Hamas, told the newspaper that "Hamas is loath to resume the war." "The humanitarian situation in Gaza today is extremely dire, with people enduring conditions beyond human tolerance. As a result, every decision is made with extreme caution to preserve what remains of life and dignity," the expert emphasized. "Ultimately, Hamas’s priorities remain focused on protecting the Palestinian people and alleviating their suffering," he added.

On February 26, Arab mediators for the talks between the movement and the Jewish state told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that the Gaza-based group is regrouping its forces in the embattled enclave, preparing for a new standoff with Israel. They said that Hamas had started repairing its underground tunnel network in the Strip, developing plans for the distribution of gun posts and training new troops for a guerrilla war against Israel.

Ceasefire agreement on Gaza

Tensions erupted again in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when militants from Hamas launched a surprise incursion into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, killing residents of border settlements and seizing hostages. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. In response, Israel has initiated a military operation in the enclave in order to dismantle Hamas’ military and political structure and rescue all those kidnapped, and began delivering air strikes on certain parts of Lebanon and Syria.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on January 15 that thanks to the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement to implement a ceasefire in Gaza and release the hostages held in the enclave. The agreement, which includes three phases, entered into force on January 19. Overnight on February 27, the last swap of the 42-day first phase of the deal was concluded. During the first phase, Hamas has released 25 surviving hostages and the bodies of eight deceased hostages in exchange for about 1,700 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Earlier, Ynet reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a meeting soon on the prospects of implementing the second phase of the Gaza deal. That said, the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing sources, that Israel wanted to indefinitely extend the first phase of the deal instead of moving to the second one which would facilitate the final settlement of the conflict.