Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen, has announced that Tel Aviv is preparing to resume intensive military operations in the Gaza Strip once the issue of hostages is concluded.
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 7, Cohen stated that Hamas will not voluntarily disarm, emphasizing that “no international force will succeed in disarming the movement.” He confirmed that Israel is ready to restart the war as soon as the hostage exchange process is completed.
Cohen explained that Israel now has “a wider margin to act” after the living hostages reunited with their families, stressing that the Israeli army is fully prepared to continue its military campaign in Gaza.
The minister added that the Israeli government believes time is working in its favor, claiming that “Hamas is living on borrowed time.” He pointed out that Israel has already proven its ability to “achieve its objectives,” whether in Lebanon, Syria, or against Hamas in Gaza.
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Cohen also highlighted that Israel maintains significant leverage for future use, noting that the Israeli army currently controls more than half of the Gaza Strip, including border crossings, the Philadelphi Corridor, and humanitarian aid routes.
He concluded by saying: “We have left ourselves plenty of influence to achieve what we want in Gaza.”
