“Now Is the Time”: IDF Chiefs Push Return to Fighting Hamas

Israel’s security cabinet is expected to discuss renewed fighting in Gaza on Sunday, as senior IDF officials push the political leadership toward another large-scale military campaign following Hamas’s latest response in Cairo ceasefire negotiations. According to reports from Israeli media, senior officers in the General Staff have argued in closed discussions that “the best time to defeat Hamas is now,” warning that they have used the ceasefire period to rebuild military capabilities and reestablish control inside parts of the Gaza Strip.

The large-scale phase of the war ended and the ceasefire began in October, but Israeli military officials believe Hamas was neither dismantled nor removed from power. According to Israeli assessments, Hamas has continued producing rockets, explosives, and anti-tank missiles intended for attacks against Israel and IDF forces while refusing demands to disarm during negotiations with mediators in Cairo.

The growing tensions come after Hamas submitted its latest response Saturday to a framework reportedly formulated by Nikolay Mladenov, director-general of the Peace Council. According to reports in the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamas demanded guarantees that Israel would fully implement the ceasefire framework including steps tied to ending the war and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, before negotiations could advance to the next stage of the Trump peace plan. 

While Hamas reportedly agreed in principle to discuss the issue of weapons, the terror organization said “the weapons issue will be examined in connection with realizing the political rights of the Palestinian people,” linking any future discussion of disarmament to broader political demands including the establishment of a Palestinian state.

An Israeli official quoted by Kan News said, “Hamas is not honoring the disarmament agreement. We are holding discussions with the mediators.”

At the same time, the IDF has already begun increasing military pressure inside Gaza. In recent weeks, the military expanded airstrikes and targeted killings across the Strip, with nearly 100 Hamas terrorists killed during the period. Israel has also gradually expanded its control zone inside Gaza. Israeli forces controlled roughly 53% of the Strip when the ceasefire began, according to military reporting, but that figure has now reportedly increased to approximately 59% after the IDF pushed the so-called “yellow line,” the Israeli-controlled security zone inside Gaza farther westward.

In recent days, the IDF also transferred regular brigades from southern Lebanon to Gaza and Judea and Samaria after reducing forces along the northern front. According to the reports, Southern Command has completed operational preparations and is prepared to resume broader fighting if ordered by the political leadership.

Still, disagreements remain inside the General Staff over the timing and scale of another ground operation. Some senior officers reportedly support delaying a major offensive for several months due to growing pressure on reserve soldiers, many of whom are reportedly serving an average of roughly 80 reserve days during 2026.

The cabinet discussion expected Sunday could become a major turning point in determining whether Israel continues pursuing negotiations through mediators or moves toward renewed large-scale combat operations against Hamas in Gaza.