Israel preparing for major Gaza offensive while ceasefire talks still ongoing: Report

The Israeli military is reportedly gearing up for a potential return to a "large-scale" military onslaught in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, as ceasefire negotiations continue in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo.

According to a report published by the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday, Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has approved several operational strategies that were presented in recent weeks by the army’s Southern Command, as part of discussions regarding renewed ground offensives in the coastal territory, army sources familiar with the matter said.

However, Israeli political sources indicated that the Tel Aviv regime has yet to sanction plans to escalate the fighting, despite Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to prepare for another offensive.

Haaretz noted that the Israeli military asserts that the Palestinian resistance group Hamas has restored its capabilities, using this as an excuse to recommence the carnage in Gaza.

In the meantime, Palestinian factions are engaged in discussions in Cairo under Egyptian mediation, aiming to reach agreements concerning Gaza’s future governance and the matter of Hamas’ disarmament, as reported by Haaretz.

Sources familiar with the negotiations warned that numerous details remain unresolved, and highlighted that some reports released in recent days do not accurately reflect final agreements between the involved parties.

Mustafa Barghouti, Chairman of the Palestinian National Initiative and one of the factional leaders participating in the discussions, informed Haaretz that the factions are pursuing a gradual framework.

Barghouti stated that Israel is attempting to create circumstances that would compel Gaza residents to migrate forcibly.

Citing remarks made by the Israeli minister of military affairs Israel Katz, he emphasized that the current Israeli policy is exacerbating already severe living conditions in the strip to push people to depart.

Commenting on international pressure on Netanyahu, Barghouti noted that mediators recognize that, aside from US President Donald Trump, nearly no other actors can effectively exert pressure on the Israeli prime minister.

"Weapons are not the primary issue that needs to be addressed; once the initial phase of understanding is achieved, it will be feasible to progress to the subsequent stage and tackle other concerns as well," Barghouti stated.

Since October 2023, Israeli atrocities in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of nearly 73,000 Palestinians and injuries to over 173,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, based on Palestinian statistics.

Although Hamas adhered to the stipulations of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Israel failed to uphold its obligations and continued to breach the terms of the agreement, leaving discussions regarding the transition to the second phase in a state of stagnation.

Furthermore, Israel has obstructed the entry of the agreed-upon amounts of food, medicine, medical supplies, shelter materials, and prefabricated homes into Gaza, where approximately 2.4 million Palestinians, including 1.5 million displaced individuals, are enduring dire living conditions.

In spite of a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025, the Israeli military has reportedly killed at least 978 Palestinians and injured 3,097 others in almost daily assaults, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

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