Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu aims to conclude the Gaza conflict promptly.
The Israeli military operation to capture Gaza, which began in March 2025, is progressing in a series of phases. The operation started with targeted ground and air strikes, expanded in April–May to seize large areas of Gaza, and plans for the capture of Gaza City itself are slated for October 2025.
The city of Gaza and the refugee camps in central Gaza, not under Israeli control, are believed to be where Hamas has command centers and positions. The offensive has already fragmented Gaza internally and disrupted civilian movement, with continued fighting and territorial seizures contributing to worsening humanitarian crises and significant casualties.
Israel currently controls about three-quarters of the Gaza Strip, where approximately two million Palestinians live. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are discussing the pace and scale of the attack on Gaza City, whether it will be conducted by one or multiple divisions and from how many directions. The tentative deadline given for evacuation of civilians from Gaza City is October 7, 2025, marking the two-year anniversary of the war's onset.
The IDF aims to decisively defeat Hamas fighters, estimated around 40,000 strong, including newly recruited forces. However, Hamas has replenished fighters and continues to mount resistance, recruiting tens of thousands of armed personnel. Its control over Gaza is increasingly contested as Israel seizes territory, but it retains considerable military capacity.
The operation requires mobilization of reserves and involves complex urban combat planning in Gaza City—a densely populated area presenting operational challenges. The Israeli army would need to call up hundreds of thousands of reservists for the operation. The capture of Gaza could require the relocation of around one million Palestinians currently residing in the city.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to end the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip as quickly as possible. However, opposition leader Yair Lapid has criticized Netanyahu's statements sarcastically, implying that the operation could lead to the death of hostages and soldiers, economic collapse, and damage to international standing. Israeli estimates suggest that 20 of the hostages are still alive, and critics fear that the planned expansion of the military operation could endanger the lives of the captives.
The Israeli military has been instructed to accelerate plans to capture the city of Gaza, with the Security Cabinet, led by Netanyahu, having decided to take control of the city of Gaza, potentially with the goal of gaining control over the entire coastal region. The General Staff is expected to approve the "basic concepts" for the operation against the city of Gaza by the end of the week.
However, no publicly announced final end-date for the broader Gaza campaign beyond the October timeline for Gaza City’s capture phase has been provided. Ceasefire efforts earlier in 2025 largely collapsed with the resumption of hostilities in March, and the situation remains volatile with no firm resolution in sight.
[1] Haaretz. (2025). Israel's Gaza operation: What we know so far. [online] Available at: https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/gaza/. [2] The Times of Israel. (2025). IDF developing plans for Gaza City offensive, with October deadline for evacuation of civilians. [online] Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-developing-plans-for-gaza-city-offensive-with-october-deadline-for-evacuation-of-civilians/. [3] Al Jazeera. (2025). Gaza war: Israel's offensive in numbers. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/25/gaza-war-israels-offensive-in-numbers. [4] BBC News. (2025). Gaza conflict: What is happening in Gaza? [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56708524. [5] Reuters. (2025). Israel says it needs more time to prepare for Gaza offensive, as Hamas digs in. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-it-needs-more-time-prepare-gaza-offensive-as-hamas-digs-2025-03-25/.
Politics and war-and-conflicts continue to dominate general news as the Israeli military operation to capture Gaza progresses. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are discussing the pace and scale of the attack on Gaza City, with the General Staff expected to approve the "basic concepts" for the operation against the city of Gaza by the end of the week. The operation could potentially give Israel control over the entire coastal region, which has significant political implications.
