In a dramatic and decisive shift, Israel has devised a meticulously planned strategy aimed at tightening the noose around Hamas, gradually intensifying pressure until the terror organization either crumbles or concedes. According to a bombshell report on March 7th by The Wall Street Journal, the Israeli government is methodically setting the stage for an expanded military offensive in Gaza that could eclipse any previous campaign in scale and force.

An Inevitable Return to War?

The plan, described as a systematic application of military, economic, and humanitarian pressure, is already in motion. As diplomatic efforts stall and Hamas remains defiant, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing a relentless escalation that could lead to a full-scale return to war in the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas: release the remaining hostages or face an iron-fisted response. Meanwhile, inside Israel, military leaders are already strategizing what the next phase of the war will entail.

As cease-fire talks stall, Israel has charted a course for gradually increasing pressure on Hamas to the point of another invasion of the Gaza Strip https://t.co/2H47GxXetX

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 8, 2025

A senior Israeli official underscored the gravity of the situation, telling The Wall Street Journal: “Israel wants to squeeze Hamas until it has no choice but to bend or break.”

The Pressure Campaign Begins

In a calculated first step, Israel has already moved to block humanitarian aid shipments from entering Gaza—a measure that began last week as Hamas brazenly rejected the proposed hostage-release framework, dubbed the "Witkoff proposal." The rejected deal would have extended the ceasefire throughout Ramadan and Passover, ensuring the phased release of hostages.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unwavering in his stance, swiftly enacted the blockade, setting the stage for the next wave of punitive measures. Following his lead, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made it clear that even harsher actions were on the horizon, ominously declaring on 𝕏 that it was time to "open the gates of Hell" upon Gaza.

PM Netanyahu declares that Israel will accomplish all war objectives:

1. Release ALL the hostages’

2. Eliminate Hamxs as a military and governing force

3. Ensure Gaza can never again threaten Israel

It’s going to take a miracle for all these to happen. I personally… pic.twitter.com/NfxKrxXUTn

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 9, 2025

Next Steps: Unleashing Full-Scale Retaliation

Israel’s multi-tiered strategy outlines an aggressive sequence of steps, escalating at every turn if Hamas refuses to capitulate:

1. Total Isolation: Following the blockade of aid, Israel’s next move could involve severing all electricity and water supplies to Gaza, forcing Hamas to reckon with a dire humanitarian crisis of its own making.
2. Precision Strikes & Tactical Raids: If economic measures prove insufficient, Israel is reportedly prepared to unleash a wave of targeted airstrikes and surgical ground incursions aimed at crippling Hamas leadership and infrastructure.
3. Sweeping Military Invasion: Should Hamas persist in defiance, the IDF is expected to deploy a military force far larger than anything witnessed in previous conflicts, reclaiming territory and potentially taking control of aid distribution itself.

   Israel may push hundreds of thousands of northern Gaza residents back south, to intensify pressure on Hamas if other steps fail,@WSJ
   reports.

   — BREAKING NEWS - ALERTS (@IsraelNews23) March 9, 2025

Occupation: The Only Path to Dismantling Hamas?

A source cited by The Wall Street Journal confirmed that a full-scale invasion remains firmly on the table, with Israel contemplating a shift from its previous strategy of avoiding prolonged territorial control. Instead, the IDF may move to systematically dismantle Hamas by maintaining a long-term military presence in strategic locations throughout Gaza.

Former Israeli National Security Council adviser Yaakov Amidror delivered a blunt assessment: "There is no way to dismantle Hamas without occupying the Gaza Strip."

Michael Makovsky, a former senior U.S. Defense Department official and president of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, echoed this sentiment, stating: "There is a determination to go back in and finish Hamas no matter what happens. I think Israel will come in tough and harder."

Hamas terrorists are still holding 59 hostages captive in Gaza, including an American citizen.

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) March 9, 2025

Diplomacy on the Edge of Collapse

While Israel continues its military preparations, diplomatic efforts remain tenuous. Over the weekend, Israel announced that it would send a delegation to Doha, Qatar, for further negotiations. Mediator Steven Witkoff is expected to join the talks shortly thereafter.

Yet, significant ideological chasms remain. Israel demands the immediate release of at least half the hostages, while Hamas insists on a guarantee of a permanent ceasefire—an unacceptable demand from Israel’s perspective, as it would leave Hamas in power and armed.

With both sides locked in an impasse, the likelihood of war looms larger than ever.

Trump’s Growing Frustration—A U.S.-Israel Military Strike?

Adding further intensity to the high-stakes scenario, Trump has signaled growing impatience with Hamas. In a social media post following his meeting with a group of freed Israeli hostages, he issued a renewed warning: Hamas must release the hostages—or face dire consequences.

The very next day, Trump and his envoy Witkoff hinted at an unprecedented possibility: joint U.S.-Israel military action against Hamas if the group continues to defy international demands. While details remain classified, such an operation would represent a historic shift in U.S.-Israeli military coordination and an unmistakable message to Hamas and its regional allies.

The Final Countdown?

With tensions at an all-time high and a return to war appearing increasingly inevitable, Israel is prepared to take its fight against Hamas to unprecedented levels. The next few weeks will determine whether Hamas submits to mounting pressure—or if the IDF will once again storm Gaza, this time with overwhelming force and an unyielding resolve to see the mission through to the end.

One thing is certain: the days of Hamas’s unchallenged rule in Gaza are numbered. The only question that remains is how much force Israel will need to apply before the terror group finally collapses under the weight of its own defiance.