Is the Gaza war set to enter a new phase with major repercussions? Twenty-two months after the conflict began with Hamas' surprise attack on October 7, 2023, the Israeli government leaked to various media outlets on the night of Monday, August 4, to Tuesday, August 5, that it was considering expanding its military operations in the Gaza Strip, and possibly occupying the entire enclave. This would mark a new turning point militarily, politically and geopolitically.

According to the prime minister's office, a "restricted security meeting lasting nearly three hours" was held on the afternoon of August 5. During the meeting, the chief of the general staff presented Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "with options for continuing operations in Gaza," according to the prime minister's office. This raises a series of questions for both Palestinians and Israelis.

"It is essential to totally defeat the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. We are not abandoning any of these missions," said Netanyahu, without further details, before the meeting.

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