Israel prepares ground to occupy Gaza city in major war escalation

Gaza City / Tel Aviv: Israel’s security cabinet has formally approved a military plan to occupy Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

The plan, endorsed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will see Israeli ground forces move to take control of the northern Palestinian city while facilitating humanitarian aid to civilians outside active combat zones.

Netanyahu’s office released a statement early Friday confirming the cabinet’s decision: “The Israeli military will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian assistance to civilians outside the combat areas.”

The proposed occupation must still be approved by Israel’s full government cabinet, which sources say may convene on Sunday. If enacted, the operation would likely displace tens of thousands of civilians, many of whom are already suffering from severe famine and limited access to aid due to ongoing restrictions.

A Israeli news reporter Barak Ravid revealed that, the plan includes the forced evacuation of all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City by October 7. The official said the city would be surrounded, and a siege would be imposed on remaining Hamas fighters as part of the wider ground offensive.

Netanyahu, in an interview Thursday with Fox News, stated that Israel’s goal was not long-term governance of Gaza but rather establishing a “security perimeter.” He added, “We don’t want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We don’t want to govern it.”

The looming military campaign comes amid growing speculation that Israel intends to fully occupy the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu’s remarks appeared to confirm earlier Israeli media reports suggesting a broader plan for control over the entire enclave.

Once the most populous city in Gaza, Gaza City has been heavily devastated since the war began in October 2023. More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict, according to local authorities. The United Nations has warned of famine, and nearly 200 people are confirmed to have died from starvation-related causes.

Many residents who initially fled Gaza City during the early phases of the war returned during a brief ceasefire earlier this year. But the renewed military campaign threatens to displace them once again.

“There is nothing left to occupy,” said Maysaa al-Heila, a resident of Gaza City. “There is no Gaza left,” she told the Associated Press.

As the humanitarian situation deteriorates further, international organizations have expressed deep concern over the impact a full-scale ground operation could have on already desperate civilians.

The coming days are expected to be decisive, as global leaders watch closely how the Israeli government proceeds.