As Hamas continues to refuse to disarm, the Israeli army has developed a plan for a new ground operation in the Gaza Strip, writes The Wall Street Journal, citing Israeli and Arab sources.
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Israel and the radical Islamist movement Hamas are preparing to resume hostilities in the Gaza Strip. As Hamas refuses to disarm despite an agreement reached under U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan, the Israeli army has developed a plan for a new ground operation in the territory populated by Palestinians, the American newspaper reported on Saturday, January 10, citing Israeli officials and officials from the United Arab Emirates.
In turn, Hamas is restoring its military capabilities lost during the war in the Gaza Strip. Among other things, this includes repairing damaged tunnel infrastructure, the publication notes. According to its information, the Hamas movement has received new financial sums, allowing it to resume regular payments to its members.
At the same time, WSJ indicates that Hamas may change its position on disarmament after the election of its new commander outside the Gaza Strip. Among the candidates is Khalil al-Hayya, who opposes disarmament, as well as Khaled Mashal, known for a more restrained position.
Hamas's Attack on Israel and Its Consequences
The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated on October 7, 2023. The Hamas movement, recognized as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, launched a large-scale attack on Israel. Militants carried out a massive rocket strike on Israel, invaded its territory, and carried out the most extensive massacre of civilians in the history of the modern Israeli state, killing about 1,200 people. Militants also captured over 250 hostages and transported them to the Gaza Strip. Some hostages were exchanged or released, while others were killed.
In response, Israel declared war on Hamas. During the ground operation and bombings of the Gaza Strip, more than 70,000 Palestinians were killed, and over 169,000 were injured, claims the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health. However, it does not specify how this statistic is compiled, particularly how many Islamist militants were among the dead, and whether it includes deaths of Palestinians in hospitals from natural causes.
A ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip was reached in Egypt on October 13. The guarantors of the agreements between Israel and the Hamas movement were the United States, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt.
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