Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu announces imminent military action against Gaza City
Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has announced a new plan to take control of the Gaza Strip, aiming to demilitarize the area and remove Hamas' control without permanently occupying the city [1][3][4].
The plan, approved by the Security Cabinet, outlines several objectives, including the disarmament of Hamas, the release of all hostages, the demilitarization of Gaza, the establishment of Israeli security control, and the creation of an alternative civilian government [1][3][4].
The strategy involves a military operation expected to begin around October 7, 2025. This includes the evacuation of up to one million civilians from Gaza City to new designated "humanitarian zones" outside combat areas, and the establishment of multiple points to distribute humanitarian aid in these zones [2][4].
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are also preparing to take over Gaza City, Gaza’s largest urban area, by surrounding it for up to three months and spending additional months to clear central Gaza of militant groups [2][4].
Netanyahu reiterated that Israel does not intend to permanently govern Gaza but seeks to remove Hamas and then hand over civilian governance to "Arab forces" or another authority to ensure security and improve civilian living conditions without threat to Israel [1].
However, the potential humanitarian implications are severe. The plan risks displacing about 800,000 to one million civilians, many of whom have already been displaced internally [3][4]. There are concerns about a humanitarian catastrophe, as the forced evacuation and siege could exacerbate shortages in food, medical care, and shelter.
United Nations officials warn that this could "ignite another horrific chapter" of the conflict and worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Hospitals and medical facilities report continuing casualties from ongoing conflict and hunger, highlighting the fragile situation for civilians [3][4].
Israeli military sources have reportedly raised objections, warning that seizing Gaza City and controlling the area could lead to intense urban warfare with heavy casualties on both Israeli soldiers and Gazan civilians, possibly playing into Hamas’ strategic aims [2].
At the beginning of July, the United Nations warned that the designated security zones could constitute "concentration camps" [5]. Netanyahu has emphasized that all hostages will be released as part of Israel's plan [1]. The specific locations of the security zones have not been specified.
In summary, the plan is a significant military expansion aiming to remove Hamas’s control by forcefully occupying Gaza City and demilitarizing the Strip. It plans to replace Hamas with a civilian administration aligned with Israeli security interests while causing large-scale civilian displacement and humanitarian challenges.
References:
- Haaretz
- The Times of Israel
- Al Jazeera
- CNN
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
The new plan proposed by Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, which aims to demilitarize the Gaza Strip and remove Hamas' control, is a part of a significant military expansion involving politics, war-and-conflicts, and general news [1][2][3][4][5]. This plan, while hoping to improve the civilian living conditions of Gaza, risks causing severe humanitarian implications, such as large-scale civilian displacement and a potential humanitarian catastrophe [3][4].
