Egypt Daily News – The British newspaper Financial Times has revealed Israel’s secret plans for Gaza, a complete occupation and military rule that the Israeli army has drawn up plans to reoccupy the Gaza Strip in order to eliminate Hamas, a move that could lead to long-term Israeli control over the territory.
The plan which has not yet been officially approved by the Israeli security cabinet (the cabinet), was devised by the new chief of staff of the Israeli army, with unofficial support from several ministers in the Israeli government who advocate for tougher measures in Gaza.
Change in the U.S. stance on Gaza
The newspaper quoted Israel’s officials as saying that these plans emerged following the return of U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House, which marked a drastic shift in American policy compared to the stance of President Joe Biden’s administration, which had explicitly opposed the idea of reoccupying Gaza.
One Israeli official who spoke to the newspaper said, “The previous administration wanted us to end the war, whereas Trump wants us to win the war.” The same source added that the current U.S. administration views achieving a decisive victory over Hamas as a top American interest.
Details of the Israeli military plan
According to the British newspaper, the plan includes mobilizing several combat divisions to carry out a large-scale ground invasion aimed at seizing vast areas of the Gaza Strip.
It added that, under this plan, Israel’s army would force around 2.2 million Palestinians, the population of the Strip, to relocate to a limited humanitarian zone along the Mediterranean coast.
The newspaper explained that the Israeli army would then take de facto control of the Gaza Strip, effectively reoccupying it nearly 20 years after Israel’s withdrawal in 2005. It stated that implementing this plan would result in the mass displacement of millions of Palestinians to a narrow coastal area, raising concerns about a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
The newspaper cited a source familiar with discussions in Israel who said that the Israeli army might take responsibility for distributing all humanitarian aid in Gaza. The source indicated that Israel has recently conducted assessments regarding the daily caloric intake required for each Palestinian in the Strip, reflecting preparations to strictly regulate the amount of food supplies.
Another source told the newspaper that the Israeli army is considering several options for aid distribution, including direct distribution or relying on private companies.
Changes in Israel’s approach to Gaza
The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that, until now, Israel has relied on launching intense military attacks on Gaza, followed by troop withdrawals after targeting Hamas sites, in a repeated effort to wear down and gradually weaken the movement. However, the report suggests that the new plan signals a major shift in Israel’s military strategy, encourage by having President Trump unconditional support.
A senior Israeli army reservist, who was informed about preparations for the next phase, stated that Israeli forces are now gearing up for several months of intense military operations, which will take place in three stages: combat, victory, and then administration of the Strip.
