Israel’s military brass prepares for a sweeping ground offensive in Gaza if hostage negotiations falter—signaling a major escalation in the war’s final phase.
In a significant strategic shift, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has unveiled an aggressive new operational blueprint—the “Gaza Takeover Plan”—to Israel’s political leadership. The plan outlines a sweeping military campaign intended to intensify pressure on Hamas, reclaim broader territory in Gaza, and secure the return of hostages still held in captivity.
First reported by Channel 12 News, the plan is rapidly gaining momentum within the Israeli Security Cabinet, emerging as a serious alternative to the “humanitarian city” initiative, which officials fear may prove ineffective or logistically unfeasible.
Under the new proposal, the IDF would expand its military footprint significantly, establishing strategic control over central and southern routes across the Gaza Strip. The objective: to decisively dismantle Hamas’ remaining strongholds and force breakthroughs in the long-stalled hostage negotiations.
According to military officials, the plan is conditional—but urgent. If diplomatic talks collapse or no formal agreement is reached within 60 days following a ceasefire, the IDF will be greenlit to execute the full-scale operation.
Chief of Staff Zamir emphasized that prolonged diplomatic ambiguity plays to Hamas’ advantage and risks diluting Israel’s war aims. His plan, reportedly supported by a majority of government ministers, reframes the conflict’s direction with clear, actionable military goals.
Security Cabinet members praised the proposal’s clarity and operational realism, particularly as frustration mounts over the stalled progress of “humanitarian alternatives.”
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet approved the takeover strategy. Sources close to him indicate that while Netanyahu acknowledges the plan’s merit, he remains committed to exploring all remaining diplomatic channels to secure the hostages’ release before approving a broader ground escalation.
With tensions escalating and the negotiation clock ticking, the next several weeks may prove decisive—either diplomatically or militarily—for the future of Gaza and the broader regional equation.
