Israel Plans to Open ‘Gates of Hell’ on Gaza to Force All Hostage Releases

By: Fern Sidman

The Israeli government is preparing to intensify its blockade of Gaza as part of what it has reportedly termed a “hell plan” according to a report in The Guardian of the UK. The objective of this strategy is to exert additional pressure on Hamas to secure further hostage releases—without conceding to a troop withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave. With the ceasefire negotiations at a standstill and the second phase of talks failing to materialize, both Israel and Hamas are taking steps that suggest a return to full-scale conflict may be imminent.

The Guardian of the UK reported that Israeli authorities are contemplating measures that extend beyond the already implemented suspension of food and fuel supplies, which was announced on Sunday. National broadcaster Kan revealed that the government intends to escalate the siege by cutting off electricity and remaining water sources, while simultaneously relocating Palestinians from northern Gaza to the south. These steps, according to the report in The Guardian of the UK, indicate that Israel is laying the groundwork for a potential resumption of military operations in the strip, which is home to approximately 2.2 million people.

It was also reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was instructed to prepare for renewed hostilities. The military will soon be led by a new chief of staff, Major General Eyal Zamir, an officer known for his belief in overwhelming force as a means of achieving rapid and decisive victory over Hamas, as was reported by The Guardian of the UK. These strategic shifts suggest that the Israeli government is determined to move forward with its military objectives, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to extend the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Hamas and other Palestinian factions are also bracing for the resumption of war. According to Qatar’s Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Hamas has reverted to a heightened state of military readiness, reinforcing security around Israeli hostages and preparing for urban warfare, according to the information provided in The Guardian of the UK report. Notably, the group has reportedly begun harvesting high explosives from unexploded Israeli munitions fired in earlier battles—repurposing these materials for roadside bombs and other tactical defenses.

The ceasefire negotiations, which have been deadlocked since last Friday, remain a central point of contention. According to the information contained in The Guardian of the UK report, the Israeli government is advocating for a prolonged truce extending through Ramadan and Passover until April 20. Under this plan, half of the remaining Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, with the second half freed only after an agreement on ending hostilities is reached. The report in The Guardian of the UK indicated that, as of now, 59 Israeli hostages remain in captivity, though Israeli intelligence suggests at least 34 of them have already been murdered by their Hamas captors.

On Tuesday, Israel National News reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had confirmed that Hamas rejected a proposal to extend the temporary ceasefire, despite Israel’s full compliance with the framework for hostage releases. Speaking to international media, Sa’ar stated that Israel upheld its commitments, including the facilitation of humanitarian aid, until the last possible moment.

“Saturday was the last day of the first phase of the framework for the release of our hostages,” Sa’ar said. “Israel has fully implemented its part, including the part of humanitarian aid, fully and down to the last day.”

“Unfortunately, Hamas rejected the offer,” Sa’ar stated. “Accordingly, Israel stopped enabling the entry of aid into Gaza.”

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has attributed this ceasefire extension proposal to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, though Witkoff has yet to make any public statements confirming this role, as reported by The Guardian of the UK. On the other hand, Hamas has that the argued that the ceasefire proposal contradicts the truce framework agreed upon in January. Under the original terms, the ceasefire’s second phase—which was set to begin this week—was to include Israeli troop withdrawals from key positions in Gaza, starting with the Philadelphi corridor, a strategically vital buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border.

Adding to the diplomatic impasse, The Guardian of the UK report cited an unnamed Arab diplomat who suggested on Monday that Hamas might be open to a more limited extension of the first phase of the ceasefire. However, this would likely involve the release of only a small number of hostages, rather than the comprehensive agreement sought by Israel.

The six-week-long ceasefire saw approximately 600 aid trucks entering Gaza daily, a figure roughly equivalent to prewar levels. Most of these deliveries consisted of food and fuel, vital for sustaining Gaza’s population amidst the devastation of war. However, Israel has argued that Hamas seizes a significant portion of the aid and that there were already substantial stockpiles of essential goods in the enclave. The Guardian of the UK reported that Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer defended the blockade by asserting, “There is plenty of food and supplies in Gaza – 4,200 trucks a week have gone in during this ceasefire, enough for many, many months.”

As detailed in The Guardian of the UK report, Mencer went further, claiming that Hamas had “enough food to fuel an obesity epidemic” but deliberately withheld supplies from civilians. INN also reported that Sa’ar emphasized that Hamas has exploited humanitarian aid for its own financial and military gain, using it as a primary source of income to fund terrorism.

“Aid that goes to Hamas is not humanitarian,” he said. “Unfortunately, Hamas’ takeover of goods turned it into an economic engine for them. It became the number one budget income for Hamas in Gaza. They use that money for terror, to restore terror capabilities, and to recruit more terrorists.”

The Foreign Minister referenced past statements by former President Joe Biden, who warned that international assistance would be cut off if Hamas diverted or stole aid, the INN report said. “Let me be clear,” Biden said in October, “If Hamas diverts or steals the assistance, they will have demonstrated once again that they have no concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people and it will end.”

Sa’ar also noted similar remarks made by former Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “They are not only taking over the humanitarian aid,” Sa’ar warned, “They are shooting the civilians who try to get access to the aid. They use it as an engine in their war against Israel. This cannot continue and will not continue.”

In order to assist in buttressing Israel’s military capabilities in a renewed war with Hamas in Gaza, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Saturday that he had signed a declaration to accelerate the delivery of approximately $4 billion in military aid to the Jewish State. According to a report that appeared on Sunday in The Hindustan Times, this decision marks a reversal of a partial arms embargo previously imposed by former President Joe Biden.

As reported by The Hindustan Times, Rubio emphasized in his statement that the Trump administration remains steadfast in its commitment to Israel’s security. Invoking emergency authority, Rubio bypassed standard congressional review procedures to expedite the delivery of critical military aid to Israel amid an uneasy ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. This action illustrates the administration’s determination to counter security threats facing Israel and ensure that its key Middle Eastern ally remains well-equipped.

“The decision to reverse the Biden Administration’s partial arms embargo, which wrongly withheld a number of weapons and ammunition from Israel, is yet another sign that Israel has no greater ally in the White House than President Trump,” Rubio said in a statement, as was cited in a report on the Israel National News web site.

“This important decision coincides with President Trump’s repeal of a Biden-era memorandum which had imposed baseless and politicized conditions on military assistance to Israel at a time when our close ally was fighting a war of survival on multiple fronts against Iran and terror proxies,” he added.

Since President Donald Trump’s return to office on January 20, the United States has authorized close to $12 billion in foreign military sales to Israel. This latest $4 billion package is part of a broader effort to bolster Israel’s defense capabilities. The Pentagon, in a statement on Friday, also confirmed that the U.S. State Department had approved an additional $3 billion in arms sales, including bombs, demolition kits, and other military equipment. The Hindustan Times reported that these arms transfers reflect a broader policy shift under Trump, who has sought to rapidly reinforce Israel’s military capabilities.

One of the most notable aspects of Rubio’s declaration is the use of emergency authority to circumvent the typical congressional review process. Normally, arms sales undergo scrutiny by the chairs and ranking members of the foreign relations committees in both the House and the Senate before being formally notified to Congress. By sidestepping this review, the administration has ensured the swift delivery of aid to Israel without the possibility of legislative delay. The report in The Hindustan Times further noted that this is the second time the Trump administration has utilized this method, following a precedent set by former President Joe Biden, who similarly approved emergency arms sales to Israel without congressional oversight during his tenure.

Additionally, the Trump administration has taken further steps to reshape U.S. military assistance policy. Last Monday, it revoked a Biden-era directive that mandated the reporting of potential violations of international law when U.S.-supplied weapons were used by allies, including Israel. The report in The Hindustan Times indicated that this reversal has drawn attention to the administration’s approach to foreign military assistance, prioritizing strategic partnerships over regulatory oversight.

With tensions still simmering in the Middle East, this expedited military aid package signals Washington’s continued prioritization of Israel’s security. As the ceasefire with Hamas remains fragile, the rapid transfer of weaponry and other defense resources emphasizes the Trump administration’s resolve to reinforce its ally’s military readiness, as per the information in The Hindustan Times report. Whether this move will contribute to stability or escalate regional tensions remains to be seen, but it unquestionably cements the U.S.-Israel security alliance in the current geopolitical landscape.

On Tuesday, INN reported that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and thanked him for President Trump and the administration’s support to expedite the shipment of munitions and security equipment to Israel, and for his commitment to the strong alliance between the two countries.

Katz said that Israel had agreed to the outline proposed by the President’s special envoy to the Middle East and stressed the need to return all the hostages and to destroy the Hamas regime in Gaza, INN reported.

The Defense Minister briefed the Secretary of Defense on the IDF’s activities in Judea and Samaria against terrorism in the refugee camps, emphasized the importance of the security zones in Lebanon and Syria, and expressed appreciation for the backing.

The two agreed that Iran is the region’s foremost threat, and that the close cooperation between Israel and the United States must continue in order to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

INN reported that Katz latter tweeted “Great conversation with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. I thanked him for the Trump administration’s support in expediting military aid to Israel and its unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”

“We agreed: All hostages must be brought home, and Hamas rule in Gaza must be eliminated. Iran remains the greatest threat to regional security – we will work together to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. Our bond is unbreakable.”

According to Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot, the discussion focused on bilateral interests, regional developments, and security assistance priorities. Hegseth assured Katz that the United States “remains 100 percent committed to Israel’s security”, emphasizing the “unbreakable bond” between the two countries.

One of the primary topics of the conversation was the ongoing threat posed by Iran. Both leaders agreed that Iran continues to be a destabilizing force in the region and pledged to work closely together to address this challenge, said the statement from the Pentagon.

According to The Guardian of the UK, the Arab League is set to convene in Cairo on Tuesday to deliberate on Gaza’s future, discussing an Egyptian-drafted plan that aims to provide an alternative to President Trump’s suggestion last month. Trump’s proposal envisioned the depopulation of Gaza, followed by a transformation of the coastal enclave into a “Riviera on the Mediterranean” under U.S. control—an idea that was met with widespread condemnation across the region.

The Guardian of the UK has seen details of the Egyptian proposal, which outlines the creation of a “governance assistance mission” that would replace Hamas as the ruling authority in Gaza. This mission would oversee humanitarian aid distribution and reconstruction efforts, though The Guardian of the UK report noted that the plan does not clarify how Hamas would be displaced or who would finance the costly rebuilding process. As diplomatic negotiations continue, uncertainty looms over the feasibility of this initiative, especially given the entrenched divisions among key stakeholders in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.