Israel is planning to capture the entire Gaza Strip under a new strategy, according to two Israeli official.
The Israeli Cabinet approved this plan on Monday in a morning vote, shortly after the military chief announced the mobilization of tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.
The new strategy aims to help Israel achieve its objectives of defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages held in Gaza.
A significant part of the plan involves relocating hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the southern part of Gaza, which could lead to their forcible displacement and exacerbate an already severe humanitarian crisis.
A defense official indicated that the execution of this plan would not begin until after U.S. President Donald Trump completes his anticipated visit to the Middle East this month.
This timing may allow for the possibility of a ceasefire in the interim. All three officials spoke anonymously while discussing sensitive military plans.
Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 after a lengthy occupation and subsequently imposed a blockade on the territory, in conjunction with Egypt. Reoccupying Gaza for an indefinite period would undermine prospects for Palestinian statehood and entrench Israel within a population that harbors deep-seated hostility toward it.
This situation raises questions about how Israel intends to govern Gaza, especially while contemplating how to implement President Trump’s vision for the territory.
Since the ceasefire with the Hamas militant group ended in mid-March, Israel has launched significant military strikes in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
Israel has captured large areas and currently controls approximately 50 percent of Gaza. Before the ceasefire ended, Israel halted all humanitarian aid to the region, including food, fuel, and water, leading to what is described as the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of conflict.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and the abduction of around 250 hostages. Israel reports that 59 captives remain in Gaza, although about 35 of them are believed to have died.
The Israeli offensive has displaced over 90 percent of Gaza’s population, and Palestinian health officials claim that more than 52,000 people have been killed, many of whom are women and children. These officials do not differentiate between combatants and civilians in their counts.
On Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported that the bodies of 32 individuals killed by Israeli strikes were brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours..
