Israel Prepares for Renewed Gaza Offensive

The IDF’s Southern Command along the Yellow Line in Gaza is preparing for a possible ground offensive as strikes grow more frequent and Hamas continues to violate the disarmament plan. Ynet reports that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says troops in the area must be prepared to shift from defense to offense if ordered.

The IDF is maintaining what officers describe as a high offensive tempo, including targeted strikes and the destruction of weapons depots. Southern Command views those attacks as pressure on Hamas to move toward an agreement that would include disarmament. “If you do not disarm, we will disarm you,” officials in the command say. At the same time, the military’s operational approach inside Gaza is changing.

Reservists from the IDF’s 179th Brigade, who recently completed a deployment in Gaza, operated around Ridge 70 and opposite the south-central part of Gaza City while controlling the northern edge of the central Gaza camps. During the deployment, they dealt with several significant incidents, including the kite launches and an explosive device detonated against a remotely operated “Panda” bulldozer.

The troops are feeling the cumulative strain of repeated deployments. At the same time, there is concern that the transition from the intense maneuver warfare of earlier phases to a forward-defense posture could eventually breed complacency.

At the same time, the U.S. is on track to approve a $2.8 billion munitions sale to Israel which includes 40,000 bombs similar to the ones the IDF uses to conduct strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah. The IDF confirms such a strike took place yesterday and eliminated a commander of Hamas’s Jabaliya Battalion, who was a major figure in supplying weapons and terror equipment to operatives in the area.

In addition to weapon smuggling operations, an Israeli security assessment reported that Hamas is exploiting the flow of about 600 aid trucks entering Gaza each day. It does this by establishing checkpoints and collecting levies of up to 50%. It’s also been reported that the terror group is taxing goods and profiting from the wartime economy. This funds Hamas’ government in the enclave.

The Fellowship and our supporters pray for the IDF soldiers constantly on watch in Gaza –for their protection, and for shalom,peace.