The Israeli army has drawn up plans to resume intense military operations in the Gaza Strip starting in March, according to Israeli and Arab sources cited by The Times of Israel. The offensive would target Gaza City in particular and extend Israel's control over the territory.
Israeli tanks in the Gaza Strip/PHOTO: AFP
According to the sources, the plan involves pushing the so-called “Yellow Line” – the demarcation line established by the cease-fire agreement – further west towards the coast of the enclave, which would allow the Israeli army to consolidate its positions and control a larger area of Gaza.
An Arab diplomat said such an operation could not be launched without the support of the United States, as Washington continues to try to maintain the fragile truce concluded in October 2025 and move towards a second stage of it, which would include the disarmament of the Hamas group.
Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed, in a meeting with US President Donald Trump, to cooperate with efforts to extend the ceasefire, he would not trust the real chances of a process leading to the disarmament of Hamas. In this context, Netanyahu would have asked the army to prepare a backup plan, claims the quoted diplomat.
When the ceasefire took effect on October 10, Israeli forces withdrew to the Yellow Line, but remained in control of approximately 53% of the territory of the Gaza Strip. The operation planned for March would expand this percentage, according to the same sources.
Information about these plans was also previously reported by The Wall Street Journal, amid fears that the current ceasefire agreement could fail and the conflict could re-enter a new phase of military escalation.
