Airstrikes, dead terrorists, and broken negotiations — Israel’s war on terror may seem quite similar to its state 18 months ago after Hamas’s October 7 surprise attack, but something is distinctly different in Israel’s attitude. With most of the (living) hostages returned, rejiggered military leadership, and (finally) unconditional support from Washington, Israel is more determined than ever to eliminate the threat from Hamas in Gaza once and for all.

This weekend, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza eliminated more senior Hamas operatives, including politburo members Salah Bardawil, hiding in a refugee encampment, and Ismail Barhoum, visiting a hospital for surgery. Israel also killed Hossam Shabat, an Al Jazeera reporter moonlighting as a Hamas sniper, and Mohamad Mansor, a reporter for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Falstin Al-Yom channel.

In addition to 26 people (mostly terrorists) killed by airstrikes overnight Saturday, the Israeli Air Force also targeted empty cars, including industrial vehicles and the white Toyota pickup trucks so commonly used to transport armed Hamas fighters. The overnight strikes mark a crescendo in IDF airstrikes, which resumed when the ceasefire shattered on March 19, and which the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says has killed more than 60 people total (without differentiating military and civilian casualties).

The ceasefire fell apart after Hamas refused to release additional hostages, prompting Israel’s patience with the terror group’s delaying tactics to finally snap. Due to “Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength.”

A majority of Israelis supported their government’s conclusion. According to a survey by Israel’s Direct Polls Institute, published Monday night, some 59% of Israelis supported the resumption of hostilities, compared to 38% who opposed it.

The U.S. government also supports the Israeli government’s decision to hit Hamas hard and fast. In a Sunday phone call, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reassured Netanyahu of “America’s unequivocal support for Israel and its policies,” according to the Israeli readout of the call.

America’s firm support is due at least in part to its own experience of trying to negotiate with Hamas. “I thought we had a deal, an acceptable deal,” complained U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. “So, this is on Hamas. The United States stands with the State of Israel. … Hamas had every opportunity to demilitarize, to accept the bridging proposal that would have given us a 40- or 50-day ceasefire, where we could have discussed demilitarization and a final truce. We need to be clear who the aggressor is here, and that is Hamas.”

Israel’s determination to destroy Hamas does not mean it has abandoned the humanitarian methods by which it has always warred against unscrupulous foes. Even before the latest round of airstrikes, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to civilians.

“Take the U.S. president’s advice,” urged Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. “Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open up for you, including leaving for other places in the world for those who desire.” At the same time, he warned, if Hamas remained in power, “Israel will operate with strength you have not yet seen.”

While Hamas used the ceasefire to stockpile weapons and steal civilian supplies, Israel used the time to reorganize its military strategy, reshuffling the war cabinet and IDF leadership for further commitments in Gaza. On Wednesday, Israeli ground forces began minor ground operations in the Gaza Strip, aiming to expand the security zone along the Israeli border and create a buffer barrier between northern and southern Gaza.

“Now there is new leadership, there is the backup from the U.S.,” said Amir Avivi, a former deputy commander of the military’s Gaza division. “The plans [for the now-resumed Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza] are decisive. There will be a full-scale attack, and they will not stop until Hamas is eradicated completely.”

The new Israeli leadership is willing to eliminate Hamas at any cost, even if that means holding Gazan territory. “If the Hamas terror organization continues to refuse to release the captives, I instructed the IDF to capture additional areas, evacuate the population and expand the security zone around Gaza for the protection of Israeli communities through a permanent hold of the area,” Katz warned. “As long as Hamas continues its refusal, it will lose more and more land to Israel.”

At the very least, Israeli officials plan to screen future humanitarian aid to Gaza through “logistics hubs” established and operated by Israeli forces.

This week, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer plans to meet with senior U.S. officials in Washington, D.C. this week, to discuss Israel’s plan to exert military control over the Gaza Strip.

Israeli military occupation is likely seen as a first step towards President Donald Trump’s vision for rebuilding Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” a plan which necessitates the wholesale removal of the Palestinians sheltering in refugee camps, whom Hamas routinely uses as human shields. Trump shocked the world by proposing his Gaza vision in early February, but so far no other party has presented a workable counter-suggestion. Earlier this month, Egypt presented a Gaza restoration plan which basically amounted to restoring the pre-war status quo, and pretending that Hamas does not exist.

Speaking of Egypt, their diplomats are working feverishly to save Hamas’s bacon this Ramadan. In their latest proposal, Egypt proposed a one-week ceasefire, during which Hamas would release five live hostages, including the last American-Israeli, in return for Israeli releasing hundreds of Arab prisoners and restoring humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza. Hamas “responded positively,” but Israel had already determined not to accept any more half-measures.

For their part, most Gazans would rather leave the strip than continue to share bombed-out craters with intractable terrorists. In a recent poll by Gallup International, 65% of Gazans described their quality of life as “very bad” or “fairly bad” since October 7, and 52% would leave the country if given the opportunity, at least temporarily (38%). The most desirable destinations include Germany, Egypt, Qatar, the U.A.E., Kuwait, and Turkey, as well as Canada and the U.S.

Unfortunately for them, neither Hamas nor Egypt will let Gazans leave.

Once again, this added burden falls on Egypt. On Saturday night, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a new directorate within the Defense Ministry to facilitate the “safe and controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure,” including managing logistics, securing routes, processing individuals, and coordinating the necessary transportation.

“We are working with all means to implement the U.S. president’s vision, and we will allow any Gaza resident who wants to move to a third state to do so,” said Katz. Helping civilians flee the war zone will only make Israel’s job of finishing Hamas that much easier.