A Hebrew newspaper said that after the end of the Rafah phase, the decision expected to be taken by the political echelon in Israel is to move to Phase C, or the third phase of the fighting.

Sources familiar with the details told the Hebrew newspaper Maariv that the next step will take the form of precise raids by Israeli army forces throughout the Gaza Strip.

The source reported that the plan to move to the third stage was prepared by the security establishment and is awaiting approval from the political level.

It is worth noting that Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced in January 2024 the start of a new phase in the Gaza war, “less intense in terms of ground operations.”

In an interview with the New York Times at the time, Hagari mentioned the reduction in the numbers of ground forces as well as the Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, saying, “The war has moved to a different phase, but this transition will not be accompanied by ceremonies.”

Hagari's statements at that time came in the wake of similar statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to the Wall Street Journal, in which he said that the army was "in the process of moving from intensive military maneuvers to other modes of special operations."

Pilot project and punitive measures

Political sources say that the pilot project for the participation of local elements in areas inside Gaza, where Hamas’s presence is very weak, is ready, and will also be promoted subject to the approval of the political level.

The Hebrew newspaper explains that, at the same time, there does not appear to be a change in the position of the political level regarding the Palestinian Authority, as an agent capable of playing an effective role in the management of Gaza. On the contrary, in light of the measures taken by the Palestinian Authority against Israel on the international scene, it began The Political and Security Ministerial Council discussed a package of “punitive measures” against senior Palestinian Authority officials.

She indicated that the person promoting this package of measures is Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as on Sunday he presented to the political government options to strengthen sanctions against the Palestinian Authority in addition to establishing four new settlements in the West Bank.

Smotrich announced that the decision, which was taken in coordination with the Prime Minister, comes against the backdrop of the Palestinian Authority’s attempt to mobilize support in the world to move against Israel in legal forums and achieve Israel’s recognition of the Palestinian state.

On Monday, the Israeli Minister of Finance published a special announcement about this file, confirming that although the proposal was not put to a vote on Sunday for technical reasons, he expected Netanyahu, as agreed upon, to submit the proposals this week.