The Israeli authorities are developing plans to escalate the conflict with the radical Palestinian movement "Hamas" and put pressure on it to return the hostages held in the Gaza Strip, The Wall Street Journal writes, citing its sources.
According to his information, after the closure of checkpoints in the enclave last week, the Israeli authorities may cut off electricity and water supplies to the Gaza Strip. If such measures fail, Israel may resume air strikes and tactical operations in the enclave. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that the Jewish state may again force hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who returned to their homes during the truce to leave them again.
The publication points out that over time, in the absence of progress in the release of the hostages, the Israeli authorities can afford to conduct much more serious military operations in the Gaza Strip, since, unlike October 2023, Israel's stockpiles of weapons and ammunition have been replenished, the United States under President Donald Trump is no longer putting pressure on the Jewish state, and the Israel Defense Forces can afford not to keep more troops on the border with Lebanon.
In mid-January, Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, agreed to introduce a ceasefire, which came into effect on January 19. The first phase of the agreement was completed on March 1, during which 33 hostages were returned to the Jewish state over 42 days. On March 2, Israel blocked humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and closed all crossings in response to Hamas's refusal to accept the US presidential envoy's plan to continue ceasefire talks in the enclave.