Israel May Declare Hamas Violated Agreement, Potentially Renewing Gaza Conflict Before Elections

Israeli officials anticipate that within two to three months, the Peace Council may officially declare that Hamas has violated their agreement. This declaration would grant Israel broader military freedom to operate within Gaza territory controlled by Hamas, potentially leading to renewed fighting in the region. The decision is expected around September, coinciding with the political preparations for Israel's October elections.

Despite suffering significant losses in the recent conflict and losing control over parts of Gaza, Hamas continues to maintain authority in certain areas and is reportedly rearming. Israeli assessments indicate that voluntary disarmament by Hamas is unlikely, and if the group does not relinquish its weapons, Israel will be compelled to act militarily.

Nikolay Mladenov, the Peace Council's director responsible for implementing the agreement, had planned to declare Hamas in breach of the agreement two months ago. However, this move was postponed at the request of mediators who sought to give Hamas additional time to comply. A senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News that if Hamas does not change its behavior soon, the declaration will proceed.

Such a declaration would remove current operational restrictions on Israel within Gaza, allowing for more extensive military actions. This development could bring the Gaza issue and the future of the conflict back to the forefront of public discourse ahead of the upcoming elections.