Israel plans 'hellish plan' to blockade Gaza, put pressure on Hamas

Israel is said to be preparing a "hellish plan" to pressure Hamas to release more hostages without withdrawing its troops from the Gaza Strip.

According to The Guardian on March 3, the first phase of the phase one ceasefire ended on March 1, but negotiations towards the second phase have reached a deadlock, while both Hamas and Israel are taking precautionary steps to return to a state of fighting.

Against this backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is said to have plans to go beyond the food and fuel cutoff announced on March 2, to permanently isolate the Gaza Strip and its population of about 2.2 million. Kan public radio said Israel is calling the program of measures "plan hell".

Israel, Hamas clash over future ceasefire, Gaza blocked from aid

The plan would involve cutting off electricity and remaining water supplies, and moving Palestinians from northern Gaza southward, to pave the way for a possible resumption of wider fighting. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for a return to combat, according to the Walla news site.

Minister Katz warned on March 3 that if Hamas did not release the hostages, "the gates of Gaza would be closed and the gates of hell would be opened." Mr. Katz said: "Israel will return to fight and Hamas will face forces and methods it has never encountered before," emphasizing that Israel will not stop until it wins "a decisive victory."

Destroyed buildings are photographed in Jabalia (northern Gaza Strip) on March 1, 2025

On the same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu threatened Hamas with unimaginable consequences if they did not release hostages held in Gaza.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Hamas is also preparing for further fighting. Qatar's Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news agency reported that Hamas and other groups have returned to the fray. Hamas is also said to have extracted high explosives from unexploded Israeli weapons from previous attacks to use as roadside bombs if fighting breaks out again.

Israel and Hamas have yet to agree on terms to secure the release of dozens of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip and pave the way for a longer ceasefire in the strip. A diplomat from an Arab country said on March 3 that Hamas could agree to a shorter extension of the first phase by releasing a small number of hostages.

Amid a diplomatic deadlock and a looming humanitarian crisis, Arab League member states are expected to meet in Cairo on March 4 to approve an Egyptian-drafted blueprint for Gaza’s future, seen as an alternative to US President Donald Trump’s “Middle East Riviera” plan.

According to Reuters, the plan would aim to create a “management support mission” to replace Hamas as the governing body in Gaza. The mission would be responsible for humanitarian aid and reconstruction. The plan does not specify who would pay for the reconstruction or what Hamas would look like post-conflict.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/israel-lap-ke-hoach-dia-nguc-phong-toa-gaza-gay-suc-ep-len-hamas-18525030408323914.htm