New Approval Required From the Army Chief of Staff.
Israel’s public broadcaster reported that the Israeli military intends to reduce the scope of its attacks in the Gaza Strip, alongside imposing new restrictions on assassination operations it carries out inside the Strip. According to security sources cited by Israeli military radio, operations targeting Hamas leaders and members will now require special approval from the Israeli army’s chief of staff, a shift from previously followed procedures. The sources said the decision is part of an adjustment to the decision-making process for offensive operations, so that direct targeting operations undergo review and approval at a higher military level before being carried out. Israeli reports did not provide further details on the reasons behind the reduced scope of attacks, or whether the decision is tied to political or field developments in Gaza.
Diplomatic Movement Continues on Gaza’s Next Phase.
The development comes amid fast-moving political activity around Gaza’s future, with efforts underway to advance the de-escalation process and transition to new arrangements for the Strip after months of military operations. In recent days, contacts have focused on locking in any potential ceasefire understandings, alongside discussions on the next phase’s key files — chiefly the mechanisms for administering the Gaza Strip, the future of Israel’s military presence, and the guarantees required to implement any agreement. Israeli operations have not stopped entirely, however, as the military continued carrying out strikes inside the Strip in recent days, while the Israeli government maintains that military pressure will continue to achieve its objectives, foremost among them preventing Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities.
Internal Israeli Divisions Over the Path Forward.
These developments coincide with growing internal disagreement within Israel over how to handle the coming phase. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist on maintaining military operations and tying any transition to a new phase to meeting security conditions, chiefly Hamas’s disarmament and the end of its military capabilities. International parties, meanwhile, are pushing toward new steps that include locking in the ceasefire, launching reconstruction arrangements, and establishing a framework for administering the Strip — representing one of the most prominent points of contention over Gaza’s future.
Recent days have seen continued Israeli strikes in the Strip despite talk of progress on the political track, raising concerns among mediators over how field-level escalation could affect the chances of moving to the next phase of any potential agreement. The current dispute centers on the nature of that second phase: Israel maintains that any transition to it must be tied to security guarantees, while other parties are pressing for political and humanitarian steps that would pave the way for a post-war phase.