Following the assassination of Hamas military chief Izz al-Din al-Haddad on Friday, Israel is preparing for the possibility of a return to intensive combat against terror organizations in Gaza, Ynet reported on Sunday.
Under instructions from the political leadership, the IDF has begun updating operational plans for a broader campaign against Hamas and other terror groups in the Strip. Israeli officials described Haddad’s killing as “the first sign” of a possible return to war.
Still, officials stress that an escalation is not imminent. President Donald Trump is said to oppose opening a major front in Gaza before the Iranian issue is resolved.
“Trump is not giving us a free hand in Gaza,” one Israeli official familiar with the discussions said. “He supports surgical operations against ticking bombs — like the Radwan Force commander in Beirut or Hamas’s military chief in Gaza — but is far less supportive of a full-scale war.”
Israeli officials believe that if Tehran suffers a significant setback or agrees to a deal under American pressure, Hamas could come under increased pressure to compromise or even consider disarmament. If not, Washington may eventually back a broader Israeli campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas militarily.
Israeli assessments also point toward a resumption of battle with Iran itself, a development that could reshape the entire regional picture.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
