- Israeli security cabinet to finalise Gaza military expansion plan on Thursday
- Plan includes seizing Gaza City and displacing around 1 million Palestinians
- Military warns full occupation risks endangering 20 hostages still alive in Gaza
Israel has announced its plan to take over Gaza City, the largest urban area in the Palestinian enclave and one that has already suffered extensive devastation in repeated Israeli raids. A highly placed Israeli government official told NDTV that Israel will increase its military operations in the besieged territory, but will not annex it entirely.
Instead, the Jewish State is planning to establish a new security perimeter inside the enclave, aiming for the elimination of Hamas, and working towards the return of hostages, officials said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that to achieve its goal of destroying Hamas, Israel intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip and eventually transfer its administration to friendly Arab forces, as the Security Cabinet discussed a widening of its 22-month offensive.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military issued new enforced displacement orders in parts of Gaza City, in the north, and Khan Younis in the south. The military spokesman said ground troops were preparing to "expand the scope of combat operations".
Inside Israel's Plan
Israel's plan reportedly focuses on first seizing Gaza City and expanding aid distribution centres in coordination with the United States. A senior Israeli official told NDTV that a security parameter will be set up in Gaza.
"The war can be over tomorrow if Hamas lays down arms. Innocents must be separated from Hamas," he said.
The plan is to destroy what remains of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and pressure the group into freeing 50 hostages it is still holding-- of whom, around 50 are believed to be alive.
The execution will begin with the Israeli military taking over Gaza City and camps in the central Strip, driving around half of the enclave's population southward toward the Mawasi humanitarian zone, according to a report by The Times of Israel.
In the first phase of the plan, Israel would issue an evacuation notice to around 1 million residents of Gaza City-- roughly half the strip's whole population-- giving them time for the establishment of civilian infrastructure in central Gaza, including hospitals and camps for evacuees, according to Channel 12 news.
In the next phase, Israel will reportedly launch a military offensive in the area. The expansion is to last between four and five months and would reportedly be funded by approximately $1 billion in donations from the US and other countries.
Per a Kan report, the plan was to expand to the camps in central Gaza, where the IDF has barely manoeuvred so far, in addition to Gaza City in the Strip's north. These are the areas where hostages are believed to be held, and Israel wants to avoid any harm to them.
