Israeli officials are reported to be planning a sweeping operation aimed at the gas sector infrastructure to cripple Hamas’s ability to fund, organize, and sustain its activities. A government report describes the strategy, emphasizing the goal of delivering a decisive blow to critical energy facilities and related networks that support Hamas in the territory. The plan reflects a belief among Israeli leaders that dismantling these assets would directly degrade Hamas’s military capacity and erode its influence over daily life in Gaza.
The report notes that the move could influence international backing, including the stance of the United States administration, and shape Hezbollah’s posture in Lebanon. Officials argue that altering the strategic balance could complicate the group’s support networks and its regional calculus. The proposed operation is framed as a major step in weakening Hamas while signaling to allies that the Israeli government will pursue energy security and a durable shift in regional risk.
One government source described the plan as seizing control of key Gaza regions with the intention of isolating Hamas and cutting off its revenue streams and supply lines. The assessment suggests that without control of strategic urban areas, Hamas would struggle to sustain its governance and military actions. The plan underscores a broader strategy that combines territorial pressure with disruption of underground logistics that traverse the coastal enclave.
Even with determination on the ground, experts warn that victory would depend on dismantling an extensive network of underground tunnels. Such a campaign could unfold over months or years, requiring persistent intelligence work and international coordination. The long horizon means that the operation would test political resolve and regional stability over an extended period, not a quick strike.
Critics within Israel, including portions of the political spectrum, caution that a military move of this magnitude cannot yield lasting outcomes without a parallel political settlement. Hamas remains deeply rooted in the local population, and experts warn that a purely military path could entrench the conflict and push it toward an enduring stalemate unless dialogue and concessions accompany security measures.
In the weeks that followed, Israeli forces continued operations against Hamas and expanded strikes in the gas sector, despite a ceasefire arrangement that had been in force. The actions were described as a response to Hamas’s perceived refusal to free hostages as part of the ceasefire framework and to push for an expanded arrangement. Israel reportedly alerted the United States in advance about ongoing hostilities, and officials warned that Hamas’s threats against hostages jeopardized the ceasefire agreement as explained by Israeli authorities.
Earlier statements from Palestinian leaders claimed that Israel had adopted a new coercive tactic against detainees. These claims have fed disputes over the conduct of security operations and the humanitarian impact of ongoing clashes. The report highlights how such allegations intersect with broader disputes about human rights and the fragility of any ceasefire or political process in the region.