Israel plans to divide the Gaza Strip into three parts as part of an expanded military offensive that would begin if cease-fire and hostage release negotiations in Qatar fail, according to a report in the British Sunday Times.
A map published with the report—allegedly leaked by diplomats briefed on the plan—shows civilians concentrated between IDF-controlled areas in northern, central and southern Gaza.
According to the report, the plan is dubbed “Stage Three: Total Occupation of Gaza,” under which civilians would be barred from moving between zones without authorization, and the movement of goods would be permitted only after security inspections. The IDF did not confirm or deny the Sunday Times account.
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The report comes at a critical moment, as the military appears poised to escalate its operations if negotiations collapse.
In a separate, unconfirmed report from Sky News Arabia—denied by unnamed Israeli officials—Hamas was said to have agreed to release half of the living hostages and some of the bodies of the dead in exchange for a two-month cease-fire.