War Drums Beat Again: Israeli Security Cabinet to Meet Sunday to Decide on Resuming Gaza Offensive
Tel Aviv accuses Hamas of violating "disarmament" terms and threatens total military action; Sharp divide between political and military levels over "escalation feasibility"; Mediators race against time to save fragile truce
Mohammed Yousry, editor at Voice of Emirates News Agency, Cairo office, is a journalist and researcher specializing in Islamic heritage and extremist groups.
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Israeli Cabinet Meeting on Gaza (Photo / Agencies)
Jerusalem – The region has entered a “bottleneck” once again as Israeli media reports an urgent Security Cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday (May 3, 2026), to discuss scenarios for resuming the war on the Gaza Strip. Obviously, the ceasefire that began last October is now on the brink, after Israeli security assessments concluded that political negotiations have stalled, and the military option is back on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s table to break what is described as the “disarmament deadlock.”
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“Disarm or Face Strikes”: Israel’s Pretext for Returning to the Field
Public broadcaster KAN reported that the primary driver for this meeting is the Israeli conviction that Hamas is not adhering to a clear timeline for disarming—a condition Israel demands to move forward with any long-term agreement. Accordingly, the Cabinet will discuss options ranging from “surgical strikes” targeting military infrastructure to a return to full-scale war. Clearly, Israel aims to pressure mediators and Hamas by waving the “zero hour” flag, while the movement continues to demand a full withdrawal and a permanent ceasefire before discussing any security arrangements.
“Divided Behind Closed Doors”: Will Netanyahu Risk Escalation?
Despite the escalatory tone, informed sources revealed deep divisions within the security establishment; some military leaders fear that resuming the war could lead to uncontrollable regional consequences, especially given tensions on other fronts. As a result, analysts believe Sunday’s meeting might be a “political maneuver” to extract concessions from Hamas via mediators, or the beginning of a bloody new phase that will redraw the conflict map. Amidst this anticipation, both Israeli and Palestinian streets remain on high alert, waiting for either “white smoke” or “the sound of cannons” following the meeting.
