Israeli officials have drawn up plans for a potential new ground operation in Gaza if Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons under a U.S.-backed peace framework, according to a report.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israel has prepared plans for a possible renewed ground offensive in parts of Gaza still controlled by Hamas, as concerns grow in Jerusalem that the Palestinian armed group will not comply with disarmament commitments outlined in a U.S.-brokered peace roadmap, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report, citing officials familiar with the planning, said Gaza is currently divided roughly evenly between areas held by the Israel Defense Forces and those controlled by Hamas. That arrangement aligns with a 20-point peace framework advanced by Donald Trump, which calls for Hamas to disarm while Israel withdraws from the densely populated coastal enclave.
Israeli officials told the newspaper that Hamas’s reluctance to fully relinquish its weapons could trigger a renewed Israeli ground operation. Arab officials cited in the report said Hamas has signaled a willingness to surrender heavy weapons but intends to retain small arms. Israeli estimates put Hamas’s current arsenal at approximately 60,000 rifles.
Hamas said last month that it remains committed to the ceasefire despite what it described as repeated Israeli violations, but it has insisted it will not surrender its weapons “as long as the occupation remains.”
Arab and Israeli officials said Hamas has used the relative lull in fighting to rebuild parts of its military infrastructure, including damaged tunnel networks. The group has also reportedly received new funding to pay fighters’ salaries, restoring elements of its operational capacity following months of intense conflict.
Israeli officials emphasized to The Wall Street Journal that there is no immediate plan for the IDF to move into Hamas-controlled areas, noting that the government is prepared to wait and see whether Trump’s peace initiative gains traction. Still, the planning reflects a readiness to act should negotiations stall.
In late December, Trump said Hamas would be given “a very short period of time to disarm,” warning that failure to do so would result in severe consequences. “Then there’ll be hell to pay for them,” the president said at the time.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023 following a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages being taken. Since then, Gaza health authorities have reported more than 71,000 Palestinians killed and over 171,000 injured during the conflict.
The situation remains fluid as diplomatic efforts continue alongside military contingency planning, with Israeli officials signaling that future action will depend largely on Hamas’s willingness to disarm under the proposed framework.
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