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The Israeli military is preparing for a possible return to large-scale fighting in Gaza while Palestinian factions hold ceasefire and governance talks in Cairo, Haaretz reported Wednesday.
Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved several operational plans submitted in recent weeks by the army’s Southern Command for possible renewed ground operations in the Gaza Strip, according to army sources familiar with the discussions.
Political sources said the Israeli government had not approved an expansion of the fighting, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push for preparations for another offensive.
The Israeli military claims Hamas has rebuilt its capabilities and has cited that assessment as justification for potentially resuming the war, according to the report.
The operational plans approved by Zamir concern preparations by the Israeli military and do not amount to political authorization for a new offensive.
Political sources told Haaretz that the government had not yet approved a return to expanded fighting in Gaza.
Netanyahu has nevertheless pressed the military to prepare for renewed operations.
The preparations come as negotiations over the ceasefire remain stalled and Israel continues carrying out attacks in Gaza.
A ceasefire took effect Oct. 10, 2025, but the Gaza Health Ministry says Israeli forces have since killed at least 978 Palestinians and injured 3,097 others in near-daily attacks.
Palestinian figures say Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since October 2023 has killed nearly 73,000 Palestinians and injured more than 173,000, most of them women and children.
Palestinian factions are holding talks in Cairo under Egyptian mediation to discuss Gaza’s future governance and the issue of Hamas’ disarmament.
Sources familiar with the negotiations said many details remained unresolved and cautioned that reports published in recent days did not reflect final agreements among the parties.
Mustafa Barghouti, chairman of the Palestinian National Initiative and one of the faction leaders attending the talks, said the factions were seeking a gradual framework.
“Weapons are not the first problem that must be solved,” Barghouti said. “If the first stage of the understanding is implemented, it will be possible to move to the next stage and address the other issues as well.”
Barghouti accused Israel of trying to create conditions that would push Palestinians in Gaza into forced migration.
Citing statements by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, he said Israeli policy was worsening already severe living conditions in the territory to encourage residents to leave.
Barghouti also said mediators understood that, aside from U.S. President Donald Trump, almost no international actor could effectively pressure Netanyahu.
Hamas complied with the requirements of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, according to the report, while Israel failed to fulfill its commitments and continued violating the deal.
Talks on moving to the second phase have remained stalled.
Israel has also prevented the agreed quantities of food, medicine, medical supplies, shelter materials and prefabricated homes from entering Gaza, the report said.
Around 2.4 million Palestinians live in the territory, including about 1.5 million displaced people, amid what was described as catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
The continuing military preparations and unresolved Cairo negotiations have left the future of the ceasefire uncertain.
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