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Reports indicate that roughly forty percent of Israel’s operation in the Gaza Strip had been completed at a recent point in time. A British newspaper cited a source familiar with the Israeli Defense Forces plans, noting that progress in Gaza City was not yet complete and that an estimated 40 percent of the objective had been achieved. The same source suggested that the current phase of fighting in the northern Gaza region might extend for at least two weeks, with a maximum timeline of about one month to finish the outlined tasks. This framing implies a multi-stage campaign with specific milestones and lingering pockets of resistance in densely populated urban areas. [Source: Financial Times]

The article underscored that senior IDF officials spoke of a longer, potentially protracted engagement in the north, signaling a shift toward what some analysts describe as a sustained operational posture rather than a rapid, decisive periphery clearance. The reporting hints at strategic considerations that include sustaining battlefield pressure, managing civilian impact, and coordinating with international partners as the conflict evolves. [Source: Financial Times]

In late November, a temporary ceasefire arrangement appeared to pause the fighting, with a renewed flare in early December following the breakdown of the truce. The ceasefire, which had been unfolded after talks with Hamas and involved the release of a number of hostages, was described by observers as a fragile pause rather than a definitive end to hostilities. The latest developments suggest a reversion to hostilities amid ongoing disputes over security, humanitarian access, and political aims on both sides. [Source: Financial Times]

Earlier public commentary had also circulated about a possible Israeli operation in the southern Gaza Strip, indicating a broader scope of potential action across the territory. Analysts note that the Gaza theater remains highly dynamic, with strategic planning potentially adapting to evolving battlefield conditions, international diplomacy, and local operational realities. [Source: Financial Times]