Israeli Broadcasting Authority Raises Expectations of a New Military Operation in Gaza

SadaNews - The Israeli cabinet (the security cabinet) has assessed that "conducting a new military operation" in the Gaza Strip may be "inevitable," according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

The authority reported that unnamed political sources stated that ministers in the cabinet estimate that "the growing strength of Hamas in Gaza could make conducting a new military operation inevitable," without naming the ministers.

The sources indicated that this assessment was presented during a cabinet session last week, where security agencies reviewed the situation in Gaza and provided evidence of the "increased capabilities of Hamas and its refusal to abandon its weapons."

In the same context, the authority quoted a senior Israeli official stating that "Israel will take military action if the U.S. administration fails to find a mechanism ensuring the disarmament of Hamas."

Despite the recent escalation and incidents that have put the ceasefire agreement in doubt, the Broadcasting Authority reported that Israeli estimates indicate that the current ceasefire in Gaza "will not collapse soon," and that Hamas "does not seek to undermine the agreements," but is demanding mediators to intervene and pressure Israel to adhere to the agreement.

The authority quoted an unnamed Palestinian source saying that Hamas has a "interest in reaching the second phase of the agreement," and noted that a delegation from the movement will arrive in Cairo soon to discuss developments in the sector.

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza came into effect on October 10, ending a genocidal war initiated by Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in more than 69,000 martyrs and over 170,000 injured, with massive destruction affecting 90% of civil infrastructure.

However, Israel has committed many violations of the agreement that led to the martyrdom and injury of hundreds of Palestinians, and it continues to impose restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

In a statement yesterday, Saturday, Hamas considered the recent expansion of the Israeli occupation army's controlled areas in Gaza as a "flagrant violation" of the ceasefire agreement, and called on mediators and the U.S. administration to confront Israel's attempts to undermine the progress of the agreement.