Military sources say the campaign would combine aerial bombardments, targeted ground incursions, and coordination with international partners to stabilize the area once fighting ends.
By IDF Club Staff
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a sweeping plan to “defeat Hamas” if the war in Gaza resumes.
The order followed a meeting with top military commanders, signaling that Israel views the current truce as temporary and conditional.
Katz said the new plan would go into effect if Hamas fails to meet the terms of the U.S.-brokered deal, which includes the “return of all hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’ military power.”
Officials said the strategy envisions the destruction of Hamas’ underground tunnels, command centers, and remaining military capabilities. The goal, Katz explained, is to ensure that “Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel’s security.”
The defense minister emphasized that the plan is not about revenge but about Israel’s right to self-defense. “We will not allow Hamas to recover or rebuild,” he said, adding that Israel is ready to act “if Hamas violates the ceasefire or refuses to comply.”
The policy ties directly into the fragile truce shaped by President Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
Under that framework, Hamas was required to release all hostages and accept Gaza’s demilitarization, while an international stabilization force would oversee reconstruction and security.
Israel sees that arrangement as hanging by a thread. Hamas has been accused of failing to return some of the bodies of hostages and of continuing to smuggle weapons into Gaza during the pause.
The controversy deepened after Israel said one of the bodies returned by Hamas was not that of a hostage but of an unrelated Gazan. That revelation fueled anger and mistrust, with Israeli officials warning that patience is running out.
Meanwhile, reports from Gaza suggest Hamas is tightening control over local clans and suppressing dissent to reassert dominance.
Western intelligence assessments indicate the group has been rebuilding some of its internal command structure under cover of the ceasefire.
If the truce collapses, Israel is expected to move quickly to eliminate what remains of Hamas’ fighting force.
Military sources say the campaign would combine aerial bombardments, targeted ground incursions, and coordination with international partners to stabilize the area once fighting ends.
Such an escalation would carry major risks, including renewed civilian casualties, regional unrest, and growing international criticism. Yet Israeli leaders appear willing to face those costs, insisting that leaving Hamas in power would guarantee future wars.
For now, Israel remains publicly committed to the ceasefire. But Katz’s message was clear: “If Hamas does not fulfill its obligations, the IDF will act to ensure Israel’s victory.”
