Military leader in Israel endorses additional battle strategies
Israel is preparing for a significant military operation in the Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approving a plan to seize Gaza City, a stronghold of the militant group Hamas. The operation, which is set to begin on August 21, 2025, aims to capture Gaza City and dismantle Hamas' infrastructure, forcing the group to surrender or disarm.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are already conducting ground operations on the outskirts of Gaza City, targeting terrorist infrastructure both above and below ground. However, the specific details of the operation, such as its timeline and strategy, remain unclear.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned that if Hamas does not agree to Israel's terms, including the release of all hostages and disarmament, Gaza City could suffer the same fate as the devastated areas of Rafah and Beit Hanoun. Katz has described the impending escalation as opening "the gates of hell" on Hamas militants until they comply with Israel’s conditions.
The military strategy involves an incremental 40- to 42-day phased campaign, with the initial stages possibly focused on ground incursions and urban combat to encircle and take control of Gaza City and other Hamas strongholds.
Meanwhile, a ceasefire proposal linked to this conflict has been divided into three 42-day stages. The proposal aims for hostage release, prisoner exchanges, easing of humanitarian conditions, limited Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza, and a return to sustained calm. However, this truce is conditioned on Hamas releasing Israeli captives and Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel has stated it would only accept a partial ceasefire that does not end the war.
The Israeli army is making preparations for deployment in the Gaza Strip, but it is unclear if these preparations are related to the new war plan. The approval of the operational plans for the Gaza War was made during a meeting attended by the General Staff, Shin Bet representatives, and other commanders.
However, there are significant tensions within the Israeli leadership over the new war plan. Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has reportedly expressed concerns about the risks associated with the plan, warning that it could endanger Israeli soldiers and hostages believed to be in the city of Gaza.
Despite these concerns, the Israeli army's deployment plan in the Gaza Strip has been announced, and preparations for the mobilization of additional reservists are underway. The proposed war plan for the 2025 Gaza War includes a multistage operation aiming to capture Gaza City, dismantle Hamas' infrastructure, and compel their surrender or disarmament.
The United Nations has noted a famine level crisis in Gaza City due to the ongoing conflict, highlighting the critical humanitarian concerns that must be addressed alongside the military operations. This reflects a determined Israeli military approach aiming at capturing Gaza and destroying Hamas, while some diplomatic efforts for hostage exchange and humanitarian aid persist in parallel.
- The ongoing politics surrounding the 2025 Gaza War involves the Israeli military's plan to capture Gaza City, which is a part of the general news and war-and-conflicts discourse, Considering the fact that the military strategy is an incremental 40- to 42-day phased campaign, and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has described the impending escalation as opening "the gates of hell" on Hamas militants.
- Despite the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations has highlighted a famine level crisis in Gaza City, making it crucial to address critical humanitarian concerns concurrently with the military operations, as part of the general news and humanitarian efforts.
