NETANYAHU’S GAZA TAKEOVER

By Anshika Khera

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s security cabinet is expected to meet on Thursday to finalise the decision on the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Netanyahu has said Israel must “complete” the defeat of the Palestinian group Hamas in order to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza since the October 2023 attack that triggered the war.

Israel’s plan is mainly focused on first seizing Gaza City and expanding aid distribution centres in coordination with the United States. It aims to destroy the remains of Hamas in the Gaza strip and pressure the group into freeing 50 hostages it is still holding which are believed to be alive.

The plan will execute with the Israeli military taking over Gaza City and camps in the central strip . In the first phase an evacuation notice will be issued by Israel to the one million residents of Gaza . Reportedly, in the next phase , Israel will launch a military offensive in the area.

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.