Middle East Conflict Escalation: Israel Endorses "Gaza Conquest" Strategy
Fresh Take:
Israel's eyeballing a new move in Gaza. On May 5th, Israel declared plans to intensify its operations in the Gaza Strip, aiming for a "victory" over the Islamist group Hamas and retrieving Israeli hostages who've been held for over 19 months. The political-security cabinet gave the green light to this aggressive plan late night, reports claim. On Sunday, the Israeli army announced the mobilization of numerous reservists for the upcoming Gaza offensive.
The stated objective of Benjamin Netanyahu's administration, one of Israel's most right-wing governments, is to wipe out Hamas, which orchestrated an unprecedented attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, initiating the Palestinian conflict. The source stated, "The plan includes, amongst other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and control of territories." Unanimously approved by the cabinet, this plan calls for "heavy strikes" against Hamas, according to the same source. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi responded, "This is the right plan - now it must be executed boldly, consistently, and without trepidation."
"Pushing the Trump Plan"
Netanyahu also mentioned during the meeting his ongoing efforts to advocate for the Trump plan, targeting the voluntary departure of Gaza residents and stating that negotiations on this matter were still underway, according to the source. In early February, US President Donald Trump put forward the suggestion of US control of the Gaza Strip to rebuild it into the "Riviera of the Middle East." Inhabitants could potentially be relocated to Egypt and Jordan, neighboring countries that rejected this idea. This proposition elicited international uproar, but Israeli authorities have persistently mentioned it in recent months.
During the cabinet meeting, the government also sanctioned the provision of "humanitarian aid" to Gaza if necessary, which has been under a total Israeli blockade since March 2. At present, the cabinet believes there is "sufficient food" in the territory, according to the official source. International aid organizations, along with Gazans, have been witnessing a severe humanitarian crisis in the small territory, primarily due to shortages of essential supplies for weeks.
- Amidst the escalating situation in Gaza, the Israeli government's policy-and-legislation regarding war-and-conflicts, particularly its aggressive plan against Hamas, is garnering extensive general-news coverage.
- President Donald Trump's Trump Plan, involving the voluntary departure of Gaza residents and US control of the Gaza Strip for redevelopment, continues to be a part of Benjamin Netanyahu's politics, despite international opposition and potential relocation of inhabitants to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan.
