According to the Financial Times, the Israeli military has formulated a plan to reoccupy the Gaza Strip in order to finally defeat Hamas and pave the way for a long-term occupation of the besieged Strip. According to several people familiar with the plans, the proposal, which has not yet been approved by Israel's security cabinet, was drafted by the new IDF chief of staff and has received unofficial support from far-right ministers who have long called for a tougher strategy against Hamas. U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House has made those plans possible, and Israel can move away from the Biden administration's insistence that Israel should not reoccupy Gaza or annex territory, two officials said. "The last [U.S.] administration wanted us to end the war. Trump wants us to win the war," a third Israeli official said, adding, "It's in America's interest to defeat Hamas as well." ”