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Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for the possibility of a return to intense fighting against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to a report by Walla on Friday. The move comes amid deepening uncertainty over ceasefire arrangements and stalled negotiations with Hamas.
Security officials stressed that, despite the heightened military readiness, no directives have been issued by the political leadership to reopen the Rafah Border Crossing. The crossing, which serves as a vital gateway between Gaza and Egypt, remains closed amid concerns over security and Hamas’s continued control in the area.
A senior security source said there is only a slim chance that Israel will allow the entry of goods into the Gaza Strip at this stage. Allowing humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, the source noted, would effectively enable rebuilding efforts without key Israeli demands being met.
Those demands include the return of the remains of St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, believed to be the final Israeli hostage whose body has not been recovered, the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, and the disarming of Hamas. None of these conditions, Israeli officials say, have been fulfilled.
“Hamas continues to entrench itself and shows no intention of disarming,” a security source said, adding that there has been no meaningful progress toward locating and returning Gvili’s remains, a requirement under the current ceasefire understandings.
The lack of progress has increased pressure within Israel’s security establishment to prepare for a renewed military campaign. Officials believe Hamas is using the impasse to strengthen its positions, replenish its ranks, and reinforce underground infrastructure damaged during previous fighting.
At the same time, Israel faces mounting diplomatic pressure from the United States. The Trump administration is reportedly keen to move forward with Phase II of a broader plan for Gaza, despite the ongoing impasse with Hamas. Washington sees reconstruction as a pathway to stabilisation, even as core political and security disputes remain unresolved.
According to Israeli officials, the US has proposed an interim step: beginning reconstruction in Rafah under strict conditions, including the area being free of weapons and terrorist operatives. The proposal is intended to test whether limited rebuilding can proceed without empowering Hamas.
Israel, however, remains opposed to this approach at the current stage. Security officials argue that reconstruction without full demilitarisation risks legitimising Hamas’s continued rule and could allow the group to divert materials for military purposes, as it has done in the past.
It is unclear whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to any compromise with US President Donald Trump on the issue. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel will not allow Gaza’s reconstruction unless Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are returned.
Domestically, the issue remains highly sensitive. Families of hostages, including relatives of Gvili, have continued to press the government to prioritise the return of all captives and remains. Public demonstrations have highlighted fears that diplomatic concessions could leave unresolved cases permanently closed.
Meanwhile, Hamas has shown no signs of shifting its position. The group has rejected calls to disarm and continues to frame any reconstruction efforts as a victory for what it calls “resistance,” further complicating negotiations.
Military analysts say the IDF’s preparations signal that Israel is keeping all options on the table. While diplomatic channels remain open, the absence of tangible progress has increased the likelihood of renewed fighting, particularly if Hamas carries out attacks or refuses further negotiations.
For now, Gaza remains in limbo — caught between fragile ceasefire arrangements, international pressure for rebuilding, and the growing possibility that Israel will once again resort to large-scale military action if its conditions remain unmet.