Netanyahu Moving Towards Gaza Annexation and Abandoning Prisoner Exchange Deal

Israeli officials believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is moving towards a gradual annexation of large parts of the Gaza Strip, while sidelining negotiations for a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, according to a report by the Hebrew newspaper, Haaretz.

Senior officials in Israel’s security establishment told the newspaper that the possibility of reaching an agreement has become almost impossible, especially since international talks regarding the issue have come to a halt. Moreover, the government has not held any recent discussions with top security officials concerning the prisoner file.

Field officers, who spoke to the newspaper, confirmed that the decision to launch a new ground offensive in northern Gaza was made without deep deliberation. They suggest that the primary aim seems to be exerting pressure on Gaza’s residents, as the Israeli army continues to call on them to evacuate their homes and move towards the coastal areas, especially as winter approaches.

According to the report, Israeli military officers do not rule out the possibility that this move is a prelude to implementing the “siege and starvation plan” proposed by retired General Giora Eiland. This plan entails evacuating all residents of northern Gaza to humanitarian zones in the south, while anyone remaining in the north would be considered a Hamas operative and could be targeted.

Officials also emphasized that Eiland’s plan is inconsistent with international law and that the likelihood of receiving support from the United States and the international community is very slim. They warned that this approach could damage the legitimacy of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Haaretz added that the Israeli military had been preparing for a large-scale invasion of northern Gaza after the failure of negotiations concerning a prisoner exchange deal. The goal was to pressure Hamas back to the negotiation table. However, the focus of military efforts eventually shifted to the northern front against Hezbollah.

Despite the absence of any significant intelligence justifying the move, the 162nd Division initiated a large-scale military operation in Jabalia, northern Gaza.

The report also noted that high-ranking officials within the security establishment had not convened to discuss the launch of the ground operation in northern Gaza. Israeli army and Shin Bet officials reportedly believe that such a move could endanger the lives of the captives.

The push for this operation, according to the report, came from Southern Command leader Yaron Finkelman, coinciding with the first anniversary of the war.

Top officials in Israel’s security establishment now believe that there is an urgent need for an international entity to take over the civilian aspects of governance in Gaza. These officials view Hamas as maintaining tight control over the Strip. However, the Israeli political leadership has so far rejected all proposals made by senior security officials in this regard, according to the newspaper.

The Haaretz report further claimed that Hamas has established a police unit known as the “Arrow Force,” consisting of hundreds of members tasked with clamping down on those who attempt to challenge Hamas’s authority in the Gaza Strip.

The newspaper suggested that the most significant pressure Hamas’s leadership might face stems from the dire civil situation in Gaza, which could potentially lead to a popular uprising. Nevertheless, one year after the war, many Palestinians in Gaza believe that Hamas will continue to maintain control even after the conflict ends, and as a result, they are hesitant to speak out against the group openly.

Israeli security officials concluded that Hamas’s civilian control in the Strip presents a more complex challenge than its military wing. Despite the severe blows dealt to Hamas’s military infrastructure, the group remains the sole authority in civilian matters.

Furthermore, officials noted that Gaza’s residents have become increasingly dependent on Hamas, partly because it manages the distribution of humanitarian aid. Additionally, many Gazans now seek employment with the organization to secure their livelihoods, even if they do not subscribe to Hamas’s ideology or support it politically.