West Jerusalem is ready to restart combat due to Hamas’ refusal to disarm, according to the outlet’s sources
Israel has created plans for a fresh ground operation in areas of Gaza held by the Palestinian armed group Hamas, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing knowledgeable sources.
Gaza is now divided evenly between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas, consistent with US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which imagines Palestinian fighters giving up arms and Israel withdrawing from the 141-square-mile (365-square-kilometer) territory.
Hamas’ refusal to honor its commitment to disarm is what could lead West Jerusalem to initiate a new attack in Gaza, the outlet stated in a Saturday article.
Arab officials who spoke to the WSJ said Hamas is only willing to surrender its heavy weaponry, not its small arms. Israel estimates the group currently has roughly 60,000 rifles.
Hamas stated last month that it still adheres to the ceasefire despite “repeated Israeli violations.” But it maintained it would not give up its weapons “as long as the occupation continues.”
Arab and Israeli officials alleged the Palestinian group has been working to restore its military abilities since the conflict, including reconstructing parts of its damaged tunnel network. They added Hamas has also gotten a new cash infusion to pay its fighters’ salaries.
Israeli officials told the WSJ there are no immediate plans for the IDF to enter Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza, since West Jerusalem is willing to wait for Trump’s peace plan to advance.
In late December, the US president said the Palestinian group would be given “a very short period of time to disarm” and if they don’t, “then there’ll be hell to pay for them.”
West Jerusalem started its military operation in Gaza in October 2023 in reaction to a fatal Hamas attack on southern Israel, where 1,200 people died and over 250 were taken hostage. Local health authorities report over 71,000 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave and more than 171,000 injured.