Israel wants to take Gaza City with a new ground offensive. The inhabitants will have to leave, so that even more Palestinians end up in an even smaller area. Critics say that Israel connects with the offensive to a dragging war without end.
The Israeli cabinet still has to agree with the intention of the safety cabinet, but everything points to a new ground offensive.
The first target is Gaza City. According to reports until October 7, exactly two years after Hamas’s attack on Israel, residents will have the time to leave. The city is then sealed from the outside world for the fight against Hamas.
The word ‘occupation’ is consistently avoided by the Israeli government. According to Ynet, for example, it should be prevented that Israel becomes legally responsible for the population as a occupation power.
There is a lot of criticism of the plan from the international community. Even from Germany, which is usually very reluctant.
‘Intake Gaza City equal to control over Gaza Strip’
With the plan for the intake of Gaza City, the Israeli government seems to have taken a (small) step back. On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel wants to take over the entire Gaza Strip.
Ynet , The Times of Israel and Axios , among others, state that Gaza City’s intake is the first phase of a plan to eventually take over the entire Gaza Strip.
But the Israeli professor Eytan Gilboa sees no difference in all those plans, he says to Nu.nl. “Gaza City is one of the last places where Israeli ground troops have not yet been. If the city is taken, it comes down to Israeli control over the entire Gaza Strip.” Gilboa is professor of international communication at Bar-Ilan University in Israel.
‘Israel has maneuvered itself in a corner’
With a new ground offensive, human rights chief of the United Nations Volker Türk fears “more forced movements, more dead, more unbearable suffering, meaningless destruction and cruel crimes”.
Army chef Eyal Zamir warns that his troops are running on the gums. Since the beginning of this year, at least sixteen soldiers would have robbed themselves of life, writes The Jerusalem Post . Yet Haaretz fears that the Israeli government has taken the way of “permanent warfare”.
“Hamas Militair Befeat has actually already succeeded. It can no longer perform large -scale actions,” says Frans Osinga, professor of Frans Osinga of Leiden University to Nu.nl. “The aim of the operation seems to be the survival of the Netanyahu government.” Gilboa sees that the government has maneuvered itself internationally in a corner, but finds it too short to control the planned offensive under survival strategy.
“This is exactly what Hamas wants,” said Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid about the issue. “That Israel gets stuck in a situation without a goal, without a clear picture of the future, in a meaningless occupation that nobody understands where it leads.” According to Netanyahu, the goal is clear, namely that Hamas lays down the weapons, releases the hostages and leaves Gaza. If that succeeds, then no new ground offensive is needed according to the prime minister.
Gilboa therefore sees the plan for the intake of Gaza City as a negotiating tactics in the style of US President Donald Trump. “People threaten with a heavy offensive in an attempt to get Hamas at the negotiating table.” He sees that a large part of the population does not support a new operation. There is also criticism from the armed forces and the opposition. “That makes it difficult to fight.”
‘Disaster that leads to even more disasters’
That the Israeli army has so far avoided certain areas in Gaza, including parts of Gaza city, is because there are probably hostages being held there. Among others, army chef Zamir has said that Israeli hostages can be endangered if the forces are in those areas.
According to the Israeli channel 12, Zamir believes that the government should not maintain that it wants to save the hostages with the offensive. That would be unrealistic.
Lapid fears that the occupation of Gaza city will lead to the death of Israeli hostages and soldiers. He mentions the plan on X “a disaster that will lead to many more disasters”.
From Israeli media the fear of a fatal city war sounds. “Fights in urban areas irrevocably lead to more victims among their own troops,” says Osinga. “But because of the trauma of October 7, Israel is no longer recovering for such risks.”
Even more refugees in Kampen ‘Almost impossible’
There are also major concerns about the humanitarian consequences of the offensive and the planned acquisition of Gaza City. For the refugee population, help is arranged, it says in a statement from the Netanyahu office. According to sources, the number of food distribution points of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is increased from just a few to sixteen. Whether the increased help will be enough is questionable.
How many Gaza City inhabitants still have is unclear. The estimates range from around 700,000 to around 1 million people. It is clear that a new refugee flow is starting with the planned ground offensive. The population will probably be directed to Kampen in Central Gaza.
“People already live there in tents or in the open air, on top of each other. So many people are almost impossible,” warns the Red Cross. “There are no houses there, no tents (tents do not enter Gaza, ed.), Not enough toilets, let alone that there is hygiene.”
Israel Wants To Take Gaza City With A New Ground Offensive. Residents Will Have To Leave, Leaving Even More Palestinians in An Even Smaller Area. Critics Say That With The Offensive, Israel is Committing Itelf to a Protracted War Without End.
The Israeli Cabinet has yet to agree to the security cabinet’s intention, but everything points to a new ground offensive.
The First Target is Gaza City. Accordance to reports, Residents have until October 7, Exactly Two Years After Hamas’ Attack on Israel, to Leave. After that, the City Will Be Sealed Off From the Outside World for the Fight Against Hamas.
The Word ‘Occupation’ is consistently avoided by the Israeli Government. Accordance to Ynet , this is to prevent Israel from Being Legally Responsible for the population as an occupying power.
There is a lot of criticism of the plan from the international community. Just from Germany, which is usually very restrained.
‘Taking Gaza City is the same as controlling the gaza strip’
With the plan to take Gaza City, the Israeli Government Seems to Have Tasks A (Small) Step Back. On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Said That Israel Wants To Take Over The Entire Gaza Strip.
Among Others, Ynet , The Times of Israel and Axios State That the Capture of Gaza City is Precisely the First Phase of a Plan to Anyge Take Over The Entire Gaza Strip.
But Israeli Professor Eytan Gilboa Sees No Difference in All Those Plans, He Tells Nu.nl. “Gaza City is One of the Last Places Where Israeli Ground Troops have not yet leg. If the city is tasks, that amounts to Israeli control over The Entire Gaza Strip.” Gilboa is a professor of International Communication at Bar-Ilan University in Israel.
‘Israel Has Maneuvered itself into a corner’
With a new ground offensive, un human rights chief Volker Türk Fears “More Forced Displacement, More Deaths, More Unbearable Suffering, Sensess Destruction and Cruel Crimes.”
Army Chief Eyal Zamir Warns That His Troops Are Running on Fumes. Accordance to the Jerusalem Post , at Least Sixteen Soldiers Have Committed Suicide Since the Beginning of this Year. Still, Haaretz Fears That The Israeli Government has Embarked on the Path of “Permanent Warfare.”
“Defeating Hamas Militarily HAS Actually Already Succeded. It can No Longer Carry Out Large-Scale Actions,” Says Professor Frans Osinga or Leiden University To Nu.nl. “The Aim of the Operation Mainly Seems to Be The Survival of the Netanyahu Government.” Gilboa Sees That The Government Has Maneuvered itself Into A Corner International, but Thinks It is too simplistic to classify the planned offensive as a survival strategy.
“This is Exactly What Hamas Wants,” Said Israeli opposition Leader Yair Lapid About the Issue. “That Israel gets stuck in a situation without a goal, Without a clear picture of the future, in a pointless occupation that no one understands where it leads.” Accordance to Netanyahu, The Goal is Clear, Namely That Hamas Lays Down Its Arms, Releases The Hostages and Leaves Gaza. If that successeds, the prime minister Says No New Ground Offensive is Necessary.
Gilboa Therefore sees the plan to take gaza city as a negotiating tactic in the style of us president Donald Trump. “They are threatening a heavy offensive in an attempt to get hamas to the negotiating table.” He sees that a large part of the population does not support a new operation. There is also criticism from the armed forces and the opposition. “That makes it diffress to fight.”
‘Disaster That Leads to Even More Disasters’
The Reason Why the Israeli Army Has So Far Avoaid Certain Areas in Gaza, Including Parts of Gaza City, is because Hostages are probable being hero there. Among Others, Army Chief Zamir Has Said That Israeli Hostages May Be in Danger If the Armed Forces Enter Those Areas.
Accordance to Israeli Channel 12 , Zamir Believes That the Government Should Not Maintain That It Wants To Save The Hostages With The Offensive. That would be unreistic with Violence.
Lapid Fears That The Occupation of Gaza City Will Lead to The Death of Israeli Hostages and Soldiers. He calls the plan on x “a disaster that will lead to many more disasters.”
Israeli Media Fear A Deadly Urban War. “Fighting in Urban Areas Inevitly Leads to More Casualties Among Our Own Troops,” Says Osinga. “But Because of the trauma of October 7, Israel is no longer shying away from Such Risks.”
Even more refugees in Camps ‘Almost Impossible’
There are also major concerns about the humanitarian consequences of the offensive and the planned takeover of Gaza City. Assistance is Being Arranged for the Displaced Population, Accordance to a Statement from Netanyahu’s Office. Accordance to Sources, the Number of Food Distribution Points of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Will Be Increased from Just a Few to Sixteen. Whether the Increased Aid Will Be Enough Remains to Be Seen.
It is Unclear How many inhabitants Gaza City Still Has. Estimates Range from About 700000 to About 1 Million People. What is clear is that the planned ground offensive will start a new flow of refugees. The Population Will Probable Be Steaded to Camps in Central Gaza.
“People are already living there in tents or in the open air, on top of each other. So many people on top of each other is Almost Impossible,” Warns the Red Cross. “There are no houses there, no tents (tents don’t enter enter gaza, ed.), Not Enough toilets, Let alone hygiene.”