Israeli occupation soldiers mourn over the coffin of a companion killed in the Gaza battlefield. Photo: AFP.
By Yahya Dbouk – Jul 14, 2025
With Gaza ceasefire negotiations having faltered, reports have surfaced of a detailed Israeli military plan prepared for immediate execution. While not officially confirmed by the Israeli army, the plan outlines objectives, operational zones, and constraints, signaling both a credible threat and a possible psychological pressure tactic. Some commentators view the leaks as a pressure tactic meant to force Hamas into concessions and impose Israeli terms at the negotiating table. Others take the threat seriously, noting its alignment with powerful Israeli factions that view the war as an opportunity to “cleanse” Gaza of Palestinians once and for all. Between these readings, the official Israeli policy continues its push without setting any clear limits on its goals.
Recent Israeli media reports confirm that the Zionist occupation army has finalized a new plan to be launched within hours or days if negotiations fail. It includes a large-scale ground offensive toward central Gaza City, a siege on Hamas strongholds in areas such as Jabalia Camp and Deir al-Balah, and the forced displacement of civilians from northern and central Gaza to the southernmost area of Rafah. There, they would be placed in what Israel is calling the “tent city,” a revised version of the previously proposed “humanitarian city.” According to a senior Israeli security official, breaching central Gaza City would deliver a major blow to Hamas, as the area has maintained near-normal daily life despite nearly two years of war.
The “tent city” project is intended to contain civilians away from combat zones, but the Israeli army opposes it, arguing that managing such a site would entangle it in the direct administration of Palestinian civilian life, something that would require a permanent military presence on the ground. Despite these concerns, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yisrael Katz remain committed to the plan. They view it as a means to ensure long-term Israeli influence over Gaza, with or without a ceasefire agreement.
These plans are advancing amid serious internal challenges for the Israeli military, most notably a severe troop shortage. In response, the government proposed extending mandatory service for combat and special forces soldiers from 32 to 44 months. Although the plan was announced and approved, it was delayed following widespread backlash from soldiers, opposition parties, and the public. This underscores structural dysfunction within the military, which now affects its professional advice to political leaders and deepens tensions between those favoring negotiation and those pushing for further escalation.
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Based on statements from top military officials and orchestrated leaks to Israeli media, the army appears to favor continued, limited operations while keeping the door open to potential agreements. In contrast, the government advocates for a so-called “strategic resolution,” even if it entails controversial, risky, or high-cost moves. Final decision-making, however, rests with Netanyahu, who continues to juggle internal fractures, external constraints, and international pressure, often resorting to short-term, vague, or inconclusive policies.
Meanwhile in Doha, where indirect negotiations are ongoing, any anticipated deal is unlikely to end the war. Instead, from the Zionist perspective, it may simply reframe it, weakening Hamas’ leverage while continuing military operations aimed at Palestinian surrender or mass displacement. Hamas, on the other hand, sees any concessions as dangerous, both politically and existentially. The group therefore insists on a complete end to the war, or at minimum, a permanent ceasefire guarantee; an outcome the Israeli leadership firmly rejects.
This stark divide defines the conflict: for the Zionist occupation, “victory” means Hamas’ defeat, a radically reshaped Gaza, or even its removal from the political map, with direct Israeli control. For Palestinians, victory lies in survival, preserving identity, and lifting the blockade, no matter the cost. What further complicates the situation is Israel’s refusal to define concrete strategic goals. Instead, it continues the war with no clear endgame, guided by the logic of “crossing the bridge when we get to it,” waiting to see what the battlefield might yield.
