Hamas could regain power in Gaza without Israel's 'clear plan'

On Saturday, a rocket hit a building in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Amir Cohen/Reuters

The United States has warned that Gaza will once again be overrun by Hamas amid renewed fighting between the terror group and the IDF.

Fighting broke out over the weekend in the northern Jabaliya refugee camp, an area that , believed to have been cleared by Israel. at the end of last year.

It comes as Israeli sources warn that Yahya Sinwar, a Hamas leader, may have eluded Israeli authorities and fled to the northern Gaza Strip from the besieged city of Rafah.

The West remains wary of an Israeli attack on Rafah, Hamas's last remaining stronghold and a city where Palestinians have fled to escape heavy fighting elsewhere.

Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary, told Israel on Sunday that it must have a “clear plan” to protect civilians if it attacks Rafah.

Anthony Blinken, the US secretary of state, later added that Israel it is necessary to have a plan for post-war governance in the Gaza Strip, otherwise, he said, there will be a «vacuum that will likely be filled by chaos, anarchy and, ultimately, Hamas.»

In an interview with CBS's Meet the Nation, a senior US diplomat said that while Israel might see some «initial success» in a potential military operation in Rafah, the «high cost to civilians» would not be worth it.

He added that without a plan for who will take control of Gaza after Hamas's defeat, Israel «will remain responsible for the ongoing insurgency because many armed Hamas fighters] will remain no matter what they do in Rafah.»

Rafah has become a major focus for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he reiterates his goal to return the remaining 132 hostages held by the terrorist group and completely eliminate Hamas. As the group's last military stronghold, Rafah remains a key strategic target.