Israeli military says it will keep door to negotiations open while preparing for next phase

Hebrew Channel 12 reported that the Israeli military has in recent days finalized its plan to begin a phase of entering Gaza City, while warplanes continue to demolish buildings and towers and step up pressure on residents to force them to move south via the coastal road.

According to military estimates, Hamas will seek during the upcoming confrontations to intensify attempts to abduct soldiers, an issue that has occupied senior security officials in Israel, especially with similar attempts recorded in recent weeks. Estimates indicate the pace of such attempts will rise markedly as the scope of operations inside the city expands.

A security source told the channel: “We are preparing to start the next phase of the operation very soon, but at the same time we are leaving room and an opportunity for any decision that could lead to the release of the hostages.”

That came as mass displacement from Gaza continues, with estimates suggesting about 280,000 people have left the city so far — slightly more than a quarter of its population.

Over the weekend, the Seventh Brigade of the Israeli military completed its operations in Gaza’s southern outskirts, while the 162nd Division is preparing to operate along several axes around and inside the city, alongside continued demolition of residential towers — operations expected to persist in the coming days.