Report: Israel seeks to reoccupy a quarter of Gaza to pressure Hamas

A senior Israeli defense official speaking to reporters said that Israel is prepared to occupy as much as 25% of the Gaza Strip in order to pressure Hamas into a deal on its terms, according to a report today (Monday) by Axios.

According the official, this plan is part and parcel of a general Israeli effort to increase pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and force it back to the negotiating table - without adhering to their demands to end the war and withdraw the IDF from the Strip.

The campaign began weeks ago when Israel entirely ended all humanitarian aid from entering the Strip. It continued with the cessation of electricity supply, and may yet include the cutting off of the water supply from Israel.

The IDF has been slowly and gradually expanding its control of the Strip on the ground while launching multiple air strikes against both terror targets and Hamas terror leaders, in both the north and central parts of the Gaza Strip.

It also recently warned those Gazans residing in the area of Rafah to evacuate immediately, ahead of a planned IDF offensive. Thousands of Gazans are already evacuating the war zones back to the humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Axios reported that the IDF's military pressure may be part of an effort to execute President Donald Trump's plan to relocate the Gazan population to other countries. Defense Minister Katz has already established an administration to facilitate such emigration and appointed a director to manage it.

Israel is currently hopeful that Hamas will agree to a new proposal allowing for the release of 10 live hostages and 16 slain hostages in exchange for over a month of ceasefire, according to sources speaking to the Israeli media, though Hamas has not yet responded to the proposal.