On Friday, Haaretz reported, citing Israeli security sources, that preparations are underway to execute Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s major plan for a wide ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, calling up several military units, including reserve forces.
The sources indicated that Israel is still leaving the door open for a deal to release some of the “hostages.”
They added that the escalation appears to be worsening without reaching a deal, due to pressure from the government to expand the scope of the fighting.
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Haaretz noted that Israel seems to be concealing the true intentions of the government and the military for now.
The newspaper clarified that while negotiations, the results of which are in doubt, are awaited, preparations are being made for a large-scale operation aimed at fully occupying the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Israel announced the beginning of a limited ground operation and the recapture of the Netzarim axis in central Gaza.
The government of Benjamin Netanyahu launched this operation—later expanded—after rejecting the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and resuming airstrikes on Gaza, which resulted in the martyrdom of more than 600 Palestinians in 4 days.
Source: Haaretz
