The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it has initiated “extensive ground operations” across the northern and southern Gaza Strip, advancing its strategy to exert pressure on Hamas amid ongoing cease-fire negotiations.
In conjunction with the military actions, the Israeli government declared it would permit the entry of “a basic quantity of food” into Gaza. This decision follows an 11-week halt on all goods and humanitarian aid, aimed at compelling Hamas to accept a temporary extension of a previous cease-fire agreement that had lapsed.
President Trump emphasized the urgency of preventing a potential famine in Gaza, as some Israeli military officials privately acknowledged the risk of widespread starvation among Palestinians unless aid deliveries were reinstated promptly.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office attributed the shift in Israeli policy to an “operational need” to facilitate the military operation against Hamas, noting that the military had recommended this course of action. However, details regarding the timing and logistics of the resumed aid distribution remain unclear, and plans for a new American-backed aid distribution system to bypass Hamas have yet to be implemented.
Information about the renewed military offensive is limited, and it is uncertain how far Israeli forces will advance or which specific areas of Gaza will be impacted. As of Sunday night, troops had not reached the centers of major cities such as Gaza City and Khan Younis, unlike the earlier stages of the ground offensive in late 2023 and early 2024. Experts indicate that there are currently fewer forces in Gaza than in previous operations, although the military reported that five army divisions, totaling tens of thousands of soldiers, are engaged in the offensive.
Israeli government and military officials have committed to continuing this new phase of the 19-month conflict until Hamas releases hostages or is dismantled. Recent Israeli airstrikes have targeted over 670 locations described as “Hamas terror targets,” resulting in the deaths of “dozens” of Hamas operatives and destruction of military infrastructure, while civilian casualties, including children, have also been reported.
The military escalation occurs alongside indirect cease-fire discussions between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar. Israeli officials have indicated that the campaign will proceed gradually and could be halted if an agreement with Hamas is reached.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, stated that the objective is to divide Gaza into distinct areas, with plans for civilian evacuations from operational zones. The military has intentionally maintained ambiguity about its movements to safeguard its forces.
Health officials in Gaza report that over 53,000 Gazans have died since the onset of the conflict, with current figures indicating more than 90 fatalities since dawn on Sunday alone. Residents, such as Suzanne Abu Daqqa from near Khan Younis, have expressed fear of a renewed ground invasion and its potential to displace them once again.
International efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, which began with a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, have so far been unsuccessful. This attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel and the abduction of about 250 hostages taken to Gaza.
As of now, at least 21 hostages are confirmed to be alive, alongside the remains of over 30 others who died in captivity. Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated on Sunday that his negotiating team in Qatar is now authorized to discuss broader terms for concluding the war.
Previously, negotiations were limited to an initial deal involving the release of around 10 living hostages and a six-week cease-fire. Despite the potential for a broader agreement, Netanyahu reiterated the conditions for ending the conflict: the release of all hostages, the expulsion of Hamas leaders and fighters from Gaza, and the demilitarization of the enclave, a demand that Hamas has consistently rejected.
Omer Dostri, a spokesman for Netanyahu, remarked that the prime minister’s statement did not indicate any significant change in stance, as Hamas was not prepared to surrender. A Hamas official claimed that Israel had relaxed its previous insistence on a specific initial deal, allowing for broader negotiation possibilities.
It remains unclear whether Netanyahu's comments signal a shift towards diplomatic engagement or are primarily intended to address domestic criticism regarding the government's efforts to secure the return of hostages. Analysts suggest that both Netanyahu and Hamas are facing pressure from the Trump administration, and that Israel’s military actions may be influencing Hamas’s willingness to negotiate.
Kobi Michael, an analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, noted that a significant military dynamic has emerged, with the deaths of numerous Hamas operatives potentially prompting the group to return to the negotiating table.