Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a significant shift in Israel’s military strategy regarding the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Prime Minister stated that the plan is to capture all of Gaza and maintain a military presence there for an unspecified duration. This approach marks a departure from previous tactics, where forces would conduct raids and then withdraw.
Netanyahu emphasized that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will not simply clear areas and leave but will instead hold the territory. The plan aims to bolster efforts to dismantle Hamas, which Israel views as a threat, and to ensure that humanitarian aid does not fall into the hands of the group. However, the distribution of aid will be delayed, with the intention of moving Gaza’s civilian population southward.
This new offensive plan was approved by Israeli cabinet ministers on Monday. It comes amid ongoing international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where a blockade continues despite widespread calls for relief. The United Nations has already rejected the proposal, describing it as a strategy that could leave many vulnerable civilians without essential supplies.
The military action follows more than a year of conflict that has seen significant casualties on both sides. Reports indicate that over 52,000 Palestinians have died since the IDF began its ground operations in Gaza, a response to deadly attacks by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of around 250 individuals.
Netanyahu’s government believes that increasing military pressure is necessary to achieve its objectives, as previous efforts have not succeeded in forcing Hamas to surrender or in securing the release of hostages. The strategy shift has raised concerns among Israeli commentators about the long-term implications for Gaza and its two million residents.
As tensions escalate, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to a conflict that has caused immense suffering and instability in the region.
