Israel sets to seize control of Gaza City, following the approval of a fresh military strategy
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's latest plan for addressing the ongoing Gaza conflict involves a significant military offensive. The plan aims to seize operational control of Gaza City, impose a siege, and forcibly evacuate up to one million Palestinians to new "humanitarian zones" in the south of the Gaza Strip by October 7, 2025.
The Israeli military will reportedly take control of Gaza City, according to Prime Minister Netanyahu's office. However, an unspecified "alternative plan" was rejected by the cabinet. The plan does not intend for Israel to govern Gaza, but to establish a security perimeter and hand control to Arab forces.
The Israeli army will distribute humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zones. But the United Nations estimates that Gaza needs at least 600 trucks of aid per day to meet residents' basic needs, yet lengthy inspection procedures at entry points allow few trucks to come in—between 70 to 80 per day. The World Health Organization has reported that at least 99 people have died from malnutrition in Gaza this year, with the figure likely an underestimate.
The plan aims to defeat Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, Hamas has stated that Netanyahu's plans to escalate the aggression confirm his desire to get rid of the captives and sacrifice them for personal interests and ideological agenda. Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead.
The Israeli army controls 75% of the Gaza Strip, mainly from its positions along the border. Ahead of Thursday's meeting, there were rumours of disagreements between the cabinet and military chief Eyal Zamir over fully occupying Gaza. Ahmad Salem, a resident of Gaza, expressed fear over an expansion of Israeli operations, stating it would mean more destruction and death.
The Israeli government has dismissed truce proposals mediated by Egypt and Qatar, which included phased hostage releases and partial Israeli withdrawals in Gaza. International concern has been growing over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where a UN-backed assessment warns that famine is unfolding.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid denounced the plan, stating it could lead to the death of hostages, the killing of many soldiers, and diplomatic bankruptcy. The plan faces strong objections from the military itself, which warns of a protracted and costly urban battle resembling Fallujah and Mosul, with high casualties on both soldiers and civilians.
The potential implications for Palestinians are severe humanitarian consequences amid mass displacement to the south and the worsening hunger crisis. For Israelis, the plan faces political objections, consolidating Netanyahu’s hardline right-wing vision for a "Greater Israel" including full Israeli territorial control over Gaza, further reducing prospects for a two-state solution.
In summary, Netanyahu’s current plan entails a large-scale, militarily aggressive campaign to capture Gaza City and impose Israeli control, with significant risks of extended conflict, humanitarian crisis for Palestinians, and military and political repercussions for Israel. The plans to expand the war have sparked concern about the fate of the remaining hostages.
Read also:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
- Court petitions to reverse established decision on same-sex marriage legalization
- Independence supporters in New Caledonia refuse agreement offering authority without a vote on sovereignty
