Israel’s leadership is once again contemplating a major military escalation in Gaza, this time with the stated aim of taking full control of Gaza City and the central refugee camps. The official rationale is to dismantle Hamas’ power and ensure Israel’s security. Yet, the plan’s timing, execution risks, and political undertones raise troubling questions about whether this is a genuine security strategy or a political gambit with dangerous consequences. Militarily, Israel already controls the majority of Gaza’s territory. A push into the densely populated urban heartlands would not be a swift, clean operation. Urban warfare is slow, grinding, and costly in both human and political terms. Senior military commanders have reportedly warned that such an expansion would be tantamount to stepping into a trap.

The logic is straightforward: Hamas fighters, familiar with the terrain and deeply embedded among civilians, would seek to exploit the........

© The Statesman