•Plan raises international alarm as humanitarian crisis deepens in the besieged enclave
The Israeli government has reportedly endorsed a sweeping military strategy that entails the full-scale occupation of the Gaza Strip and the forced relocation of a significant portion of the Palestinian population to the southern part of the territory.
The move, which marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict, has drawn sharp international concern due to its humanitarian implications and potential violations of international law.
According to multiple media reports, including the Associated Press and Agence France Presse, the plan was unanimously approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet during a high-level meeting held on Monday.
The strategy is purportedly aimed at achieving Israel’s core war objectives: the complete dismantling of Hamas and the recovery of hostages held in Gaza.
An Israeli official quoted by AFP described the initiative as including “the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories,” along with “moving the Gaza population south for their protection.”
The plan is expected to result in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, further worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), under the direction of Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir, have also ordered the mobilization of tens of thousands of additional reservists.
Zamir announced the move on Sunday, stating that the troop surge is necessary to “increase pressure” on Hamas and accelerate the group’s eradication.
Israel’s current military campaign is rooted in its response to a deadly cross-border incursion by Hamas in October 2023.
The attack resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli fatalities and the kidnapping of dozens of hostages. Israel maintains that 59 hostages remain in captivity, although around 35 are believed to have died.
Since then, Israeli air and ground operations in Gaza have led to unprecedented levels of destruction.
Over 50,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, the vast majority of them civilians, according to local and international sources.
Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, hospitals and schools targeted or caught in crossfire, and vital infrastructure—including water, electricity, and sanitation systems—destroyed.
Human rights organizations and humanitarian agencies have repeatedly accused Israel of indiscriminate bombing, collective punishment, and the obstruction of aid deliveries.
The blockade imposed on Gaza has left its population facing severe shortages of food, clean water, medical supplies, and shelter.
The United Nations and other international bodies have issued urgent appeals for de-escalation and for the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law.
In a controversial development earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly supported what he termed the “voluntary relocation” of Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt.
Trump claimed such a move could pave the way for transforming the enclave into a “resort zone.”
The proposal was widely condemned by the international community as both impractical and a violation of Palestinians’ right to their land and homes.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu welcomed the idea, calling it a “remarkable” suggestion that should be “pursued,” signaling alignment with a stance that many view as tantamount to ethnic cleansing.
As tensions escalate and humanitarian conditions deteriorate, global leaders and advocacy groups are calling for renewed diplomatic efforts, the immediate cessation of hostilities, and unfettered access for humanitarian aid.
The latest reports suggest, however, that Israel is preparing for a prolonged and more intense phase of the conflict—one that may reshape the region’s geopolitical landscape for years to come.
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