Western diplomat: Israel planning more intensive fight when war resumes, but broader ‘misguided’ strategy unchanged

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Israel is gearing up to return to war against Hamas, believing that the ceasefire and hostage release deal will not continue for more than several weeks, a senior Western diplomat tells The Times of Israel.

While the IDF’s tactics are slated to shift from the last year of fighting, with Israeli military and political officials pledging a more intensive military campaign, the Western diplomat briefed on Jerusalem’s preparations says there does not appear to be a strategic shift in Israel’s approach regarding the advancement of an alternative to Hamas.

The government is still prioritizing the dismantlement of Hamas’s governing and military capabilities, believing that no alternative can be established in Gaza until the terror group has been defeated, the Western diplomat says.

However, the diplomat maintains that this approach is “misguided,” arguing that planning and implementation for an alternative to Hamas must happen simultaneously with the IDF’s fighting against the group.

“Otherwise, what you will have is indefinite Israeli occupation and Hamas insurgency,” the diplomat says.