Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to finalize a comprehensive plan to destroy Hamas should the fragile ceasefire in Gaza collapse. Following consultations with top military officials, Katz made clear that the truce is strictly conditional and that any failure by Hamas to uphold the U.S.-brokered terms—particularly the release of all remaining hostages and the dismantling of its armed infrastructure—will trigger a renewed offensive. The updated strategy reportedly targets Hamas’ extensive tunnel networks, command centers, and weapons caches, aiming to eliminate the group’s operational capacity once and for all. Katz emphasized that the move is not driven by retaliation but by national security: “We will not allow Hamas to recover or rebuild. If they violate the ceasefire or refuse to comply, the IDF will act decisively.”

While Israel publicly upholds the truce, frustration is mounting over Hamas’ alleged violations, including failure to return hostages’ bodies and continued arms smuggling under the guise of the pause. Intelligence reports suggest Hamas has used the lull to consolidate power and rebuild internal command structures. Should the ceasefire collapse, Israel is expected to launch a multifaceted campaign combining airstrikes, targeted ground incursions, and international coordination to secure Gaza’s demilitarization. Though such action risks renewed civilian casualties and global backlash, Israeli officials argue that allowing Hamas to remain intact would only ensure another cycle of war. Katz’s directive leaves little doubt: if Hamas continues to defy the agreement, Israel stands ready to finish the fight it began.

SOURCE: World Israel News