Summary
- Netanyahu orders full occupation of Gaza Strip.
- Military operations to include areas with hostages.
- The decision was communicated directly to IDF Chief Eyal Zamir.
- Zamir was told to comply or resign if opposed.
- Move intensifies the 21-month-long Gaza conflict amid international concern.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir received the following message from the Prime Minister's Office: If this isn't what you want, then you should step down.
The announcement follows months of ceasefire-hostage negotiations between Israel, Hamas, and mediators in Doha.
Despite heightened international efforts to transfer aid to the Palestinian enclave in a way that would circumvent the Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip, Hamas insisted that hundreds of trucks of aid must reach the region before the terror group would resume negotiations.
Over the weekend, Hamas also published videos of malnourished hostages, stating that the famine in the Gaza Strip was causing them to starve.
Hamas retorted that the resources would only be
able to reach the men if Israel permanently opened the humanitarian corridors
and stopped "all forms of air traffic" during the delivery of
packages to the hostages, even though the Red Cross agreed to step up efforts
to deliver aid directly to the hostages in addition to the aid being delivered
by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
What are the implications of Netanyahu's decision for Gaza’s civilian population?
Israeli plans involve forcibly relocating much of Gaza’s population into a severely restricted area, intensifying displacement that has already affected the majority of Palestinian residents. This could amount to ethnic cleansing, effectively making large parts of Gaza uninhabitable for its current residents.
The operation includes plans to “flatten” large areas, demolishing homes, hospitals, schools, and other vital infrastructure. This will exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis, leaving millions without shelter, water, sanitation, and electricity.
Gaza faces extreme shortages of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies due to an ongoing Israeli blockade lasting over 75 days.