Israel plans to 'flatten' what's left of Gaza if Trump leaves Mideast with no deal: report

Israel plans to "occupy and flatten" what remains of key parts of Gaza if no deal is reached by the time President Donald Trump finishes up his tour of the Middle East this month, Axios reported on Monday.

"Israel's Security Cabinet approved a plan Sunday night to gradually reoccupy all of Gaza and hold it indefinitely if no deal is reached by May 15," said the report. "Plans for the operation call for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to flatten any buildings that remain standing and displace virtually the entire population of 2 million people to a single 'humanitarian area.' The alternative to remaining in the humanitarian zone is for Palestinians to leave the enclave 'voluntarily' for other countries 'in line with President Trump's vision for Gaza,' an Israeli official said."

According to the report, Israeli officials would prefer that a deal be reached to conclude the war prior to that point.

Israel has for months blocked shipments of aid into Gaza, asserting that Hamas has seized control of shipments and used them for its own purposes.

Trump has taken a hard turn in favor of unchecked support of Israel's right to use whatever tactics it wishes in the attempt to destroy the remains of the Hamas terrorist group, lifting the few restrictions former President Joe Biden placed on shipments of arms to the nation like 2,000-pound bombs.

He has also floated the idea of the U.S. itself rebuilding Gaza as a tourism and hospitality destination.