Israel Prepares Possible Gaza Offensive As Trump Peace Effort Stalls

Israel and Hamas terrorists are on the brink of renewed fighting in Gaza, as momentum behind President Trump’s proposed peace framework appears to have ground to a halt, according to Saturday reports from multiple news sources.

Israeli defense officials have finalized contingency plans for another ground incursion into Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the deliberations.

According to the Times of Israel, the operation is being eyed for March and would focus on Gaza City, with the aim of expanding IDF control across additional areas of the enclave.

Even with a cease-fire technically in place, Gaza has seen near-daily airstrikes, underscoring the fragility of the truce, according to reports.

At the same time, Hamas terrorists have used the lull in fighting to rebuild their military strength rather than disarm, Israeli and Arab officials told the New York Post.

The terror organization has reportedly replenished its finances using cash concealed in underground tunnels during the war, while also generating revenue by taxing goods and services throughout Gaza.

Officials added that Hamas has also received financial backing from Iran.

With renewed access to funds, the group has been able to pay its operatives and intensify recruitment efforts, seeking to replace commanders eliminated during the two-year war with Israel, according to the report.

Since the cease-fire went into effect in October, Hamas has reportedly moved aggressively to solidify its grip on Gaza, violently suppressing rival factions and sparking clashes within the devastated territory.

Oversight of the second phase of the fragile agreement will fall to a newly created Board of Peace, which President Trump is expected to formally announce next week, including the 15 international leaders who will serve on it. The body will be responsible for determining how Hamas disarmament is implemented and what weapons must be surrendered, including whether small arms are included.

Arab officials said Hamas has signaled a willingness to give up remaining heavy weapons but has drawn a firm line against relinquishing smaller firearms.

“They’ve made an agreement that they’re going to disarm,” Trump said Friday on Fox News. “We’re going to have to assume that they’re going to, but you know it’s not their nature to disarm.”

Trump has previously warned that Hamas would be given “a very short period of time” to hand over its weapons or face severe consequences, saying “there will be hell to pay.” At the same time, he has made clear he does not intend to delay phase two of the plan – which includes deploying an International Stabilization Force to police Gaza – while waiting for full disarmament.

Earlier this week, Trump appointed former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov to head the Board of Peace.

Mladenov met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday and held talks with Palestinian Authority officials in Yehudah and Shomron on Friday.

Despite Israel’s military preparations, any large-scale offensive would require American backing. The US continues to push for progress on the cease-fire initiative, an Arab diplomat told the Times of Israel.

Netanyahu is said to doubt that the Trump-led international framework can successfully disarm Hamas terrorists, prompting him to instruct the IDF to prepare what he described as a “contingency plan” should diplomacy collapse.