Israel may resume military action in the Gaza Strip in 10 days, if the radical Palestinian movement Hamas does not agree on the transition to the second stage of a ceasefire agreement with the release of all hostages, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Negotiations over the continued release of hostages held in Gaza have stalled, sources familiar with details of the talks told The Jerusalem Post.
"Nothing is currently moving on this front," a source said.
Officials estimated that if no agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, Israel would resume fighting in Gaza in about a week and a half.
The Kan television and radio company reported on March 3 that Israel plans to restart hostilities in the Gaza Strip as a last resort if the deal is not extended.
According to it, Israel intends to gradually increase pressure on Hamas in addition to cutting off humanitarian aid access to the strip.
In the future, Israel may again announce the population evacuation of Gaza from north to south and, if necessary, completely cut off the supply of electricity to the Palestinian enclave.
In mid-January, Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, agreed to establish a cease-fire in Gaza, which came into force on January 19.
The first stage of the agreement's ended on March 1. In the 42 days, 33 hostages were returned to Israel from the Gaza strip.
In exchange, the Jewish State released more than 1,500 Palestinians from prison, some of whom were deported from the Palestinian territories.
On March 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and closed all checkpoints because, he said, Hamas refused to accept the plan of the US special envoy for the Middle East Stephen Witkoff to extend the ceasefire.
Netanyahu warned that if the radicals continue to refuse to negotiate, they will face "additional consequences.".
