Following a broken ceasefire and stalled hostage negotiations, Israel has resumed its military campaign in Gaza. The IDF has initiated a new series of airstrikes, followed by coordinated ground operations in northern Gaza, along the coastline, and in Rafah.
Bolstered by increased U.S. support and shifts in the regional dynamic, Israel’s military goals have evolved from simply weakening Hamas’s military strength to dismantling its governing capabilities.
“We’ve been fighting them for 10 days,” stated Maj. Gen. Yaakov Amidror (res.), former Israeli national security advisor. “The fact that they’ve only managed to launch seven rockets shows the extent of the damage we’ve already inflicted.”
A senior Israeli security official told Digital: “We’ve seized weapons, labs, and command centers. Hamas is no longer functioning as a conventional army, though it remains a dangerous terror group; it is not the force it was on October 7.”
Israeli data indicates that most of Hamas’s senior leaders have been eliminated, leaving only fragmented units.
“They’ve lost their experienced leadership and are now focused on survival,” the official stated.
Israel is now operating in a significantly improved military and diplomatic environment.
“The strategic landscape has changed,” Amidror told Digital. “Hezbollah is weaker, Iran is facing constraints, and the U.S. administration is providing genuine support, without dictating operational specifics.”
With reduced threats on other fronts and strong U.S. backing, the IDF is now targeting Hamas’s political leadership as well.
“We’re not just reducing military capabilities; we’re dismantling the structure that allowed Hamas to govern,” Amidror explained.
During the ceasefire, Hamas reportedly tightened its grip on humanitarian aid, confiscating supplies, reselling goods, and using them to recruit and maintain loyalty. Israeli officials say this will no longer be tolerated.
“We are working to ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians and isn’t used as a weapon by Hamas,” the senior Israeli security official stated, adding that Gaza has sufficient food reserves and Israel is developing alternative delivery methods to bypass Hamas.
Fifty-nine Israeli hostages remain in Hamas captivity, sparking nationwide protests from families urging a negotiated release. However, the renewed fighting puts these hostages at greater risk.
“The hostages are the primary constraint,” Amidror acknowledged. “Our priority is their safety, which presents a significant challenge during warfare.”
Israel’s Channel 12 news’ chief political analyst, Amit Segal, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the country’s parliament that as long as Hamas doesn’t free the hostages, more pressure will be exerted on the terrorist group, including seizing land.
“My stance is that securing the hostages’ return must come first, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing to a security perimeter,” said Ram Ben Barak, former deputy head of Mossad and current Knesset member. “We can agree to that, but only if Hamas returns all the hostages. Their failure to do so would be grounds for resuming the war. And even if they do return them, we’ll remain vigilant. Any resumption of weapons smuggling or fighter training would also warrant a strong response.”
The security official said is part of a coordinated effort to bring the hostages home.
“They released a group of hostages earlier than planned because of the pressure we applied in Netzarim when they refused to release Arbel Yehud,” he said.
Despite tactical successes, Israeli leaders acknowledge that the war cannot eradicate Hamas’s ideology. Their stated goal is to prevent Hamas from ever governing Gaza again.
“We won’t revert to allowing them to quietly build an army,” Ben Barak told Digital. “We’ll strike any military training or arms smuggling. They will never have tanks or armored vehicles again.”
Ben Barak said Israel can’t remain in Gaza long-term: “If we stay like we did in Lebanon for 19 years, we’ll leave in shame. The only way to win is to have someone else replace Hamas and govern Gaza.”
He suggested the West Bank as a possible model: “In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority governs, and we operate from the perimeter when needed. We need the same in Gaza: an internationally backed civil authority that rebuilds the [Gaza] Strip and keeps Hamas out.”
Still, he cautioned against expecting immediate peace.
“There won’t be peace in the next 20 years. But like Egypt did with the Muslim Brotherhood, we can suppress Hamas’s ideology and stop it from taking root again.”
Ben Barak also said should be allowed to: “Let them out. If they have visas and want to go, Israel should let them. It will make military operations easier in a less densely populated area.”
Israeli forces are now deeply entrenched in Gaza, conducting operations simultaneously in the north, south, and central areas.
“These aren’t symbolic moves,” Amidror said. “We’re positioning ourselves for the next stage. We will eventually need to reach every tunnel, blow up the infrastructure, and kill every Hamas terrorist. It is achievable, but it will take at least a year.”