IDF in Gaza readies for new phase of Trump plan

The shift signals that Jerusalem is preparing for the next phase of the U.S.-backed plan even as Hamas refuses to disarm.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel is moving ahead with early steps connected to President Donald Trump’s Gaza blueprint as American pressure intensifies and the number of murdered hostages remaining in the Strip continues to decline, according to a report broadcast by Kan News on Wednesday.

The shift signals that Jerusalem is preparing for the next phase of the U.S.-backed plan even as Hamas refuses to disarm.

Defense officials say the Israel Defense Forces are preparing to bring heavy engineering equipment into Rafah in the coming days, possibly as soon as next week, to clear away large sections of rubble.

These operations are designed to open space for a new humanitarian zone intended for Gazans living under Israeli security oversight rather than Hamas rule.

Israeli officials described the effort as part of a broader attempt to carve out an area free of Hamas influence that could serve as the first concrete step toward implementing the American initiative.

Officials noted that groups working alongside Israeli forces in the area have already been informed of the planned construction and clearance work.

They emphasized that the coordination is meant to ensure the emerging zone remains isolated from Hamas-controlled territory and can eventually transition to the next component of the plan.

Under the U.S. framework, a foreign security element is expected to operate in what is being dubbed “New Gaza,” a designated area that remains under Israeli control for now.

Several countries have signaled willingness to contribute troops to the mission. However, those same governments have not agreed to deploy forces into the parts of the Strip where Hamas still maintains significant control.

In recent days, IDF units have begun laying the groundwork inside Rafah, removing unexploded ordnance and sealing tunnels with concrete.

Military sources say that even if negotiations advance, Hamas’ refusal to lay down its weapons supports Israel’s objective of dismantling terrorist infrastructure.

The new preparations exclude the Janina neighborhood of Rafah, where intelligence assessments indicate dozens of Hamas operatives remain underground.

Israeli officials view that enclave as a separate operational challenge that will be addressed outside the current round of preparations tied to the emerging humanitarian zone.