Hamas condemned Israel’s announcement of a military plan to take full control of Gaza City, describing it as reckless escalation and an affront to Arab and international mediation efforts. The move comes as ceasefire proposals remain on the table, but Israel has yet to issue a formal response, raising fears of further widening the war that has raged for nearly two years.

Israel’s Military Plan

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz unveiled the plan on Wednesday, which calls for calling up 60,000 reservists to prepare for a large-scale operation. The announcement coincides with international pressure on Israel to respond to a truce initiative proposed by Qatar and Egypt, which Hamas said it had already accepted.

Hamas charged that Netanyahu deliberately undermined peace efforts by refusing to reply to mediator proposals, accusing him of prioritizing political survival over hostages’ lives. “Ignoring mediators proves Netanyahu does not want an agreement,” Hamas said in its statement.

Ceasefire Efforts

Since the war began in October 2023, mediators from Qatar and Egypt have overseen multiple negotiation rounds. Two temporary truces enabled exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, but a lasting ceasefire has yet to be achieved.

On Monday, Hamas informed Qatar and Egypt it had agreed to their latest ceasefire proposal, declaring that “the ball is in Israel’s court.”

Hamas warned both Israel and Washington would be held responsible if the new Gaza operation proceeds, labeling it a criminal act that undermines mediator credibility.