Israel reveals ambition to reclaim Gaza City; UN urges restraint
In a significant turn of events, Israel has approved and is actively implementing plans to take control of Gaza City as part of a broader military campaign. This move, aimed at "demilitarizing" the Gaza Strip and removing Hamas from power, has escalated the ongoing conflict and raised concerns worldwide.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined five key objectives for this expanded offensive: disarm Hamas, free all hostages, demilitarize Gaza, establish overriding Israeli security control, and install a non-Hamas civilian administration. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff has approved the operational framework for this operation, which includes seizing Gaza’s largest urban area and confronting areas where Hamas is believed to be holding hostages.
This escalation has led to a serious anticipation of large-scale displacement of civilians. The United Nations has warned that Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City risks igniting "another horrific chapter," with approximately 800,000 civilians expected to be displaced by early October 2025. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has criticized the Israeli government’s plan for a complete military takeover of Gaza, stating that it runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice.
The ongoing conflict saw a ceasefire in early 2025, but hostilities resumed in March 2025 with Israeli ground operations expanding southwards and attempts to retake key corridors. Israel’s offensive is characterized by large-scale military and air operations, targeting Hamas militants who have reportedly recruited tens of thousands of fighters. This intensification also risks worsening the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where hospitals report numerous deaths and injuries, including from hunger and during attempts to collect aid.
The plan for a complete military takeover of Gaza might further disrupt efforts to deliver food to the hunger-stricken territory. Hamas has stated that the people in Gaza will remain defiant against occupation. The United Nations has demanded an immediate halt to Israel’s war plans, as reported by AP in Jerusalem, but no specific UN official was named in the report.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's plan might be aimed at pressuring Hamas to accept a ceasefire on Israel's terms. However, Hamas has asserted that expanding aggression against the Palestinian people will not be a walk in the park. The plan for a complete military takeover of Gaza might reflect the reservations of Israel’s top general, who warned that expanding operations would endanger the remaining hostages held by Hamas and further strain Israel’s army.
This development in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict heightens tensions and civilian displacement, with significant implications for the humanitarian situation. The people of Gaza City, one of the few areas in Gaza that has not been turned into an Israeli buffer zone or placed under evacuation orders, now face an uncertain future.
- The escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as Israel pursues a complete military takeover of Gaza City, has raised concerns regarding the politics and general news worldwide, as it might further disrupt efforts to deliver food, worsen the humanitarian crisis, and risk igniting "another horrific chapter."
- As part of Israel's broader military campaign, the Israeli Prime Minister's plan is aimed at pressuring Hamas to accept a ceasefire on Israel's terms, but this plan, which involves taking control of Gaza City, has been criticized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, potentially escalating war-and-conflicts in the region.
