Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to give final approval for plans to take over Gaza City, potentially launching the operation within days, despite protests in both Israel and Gaza. The move marks a widening of Israel’s 22-month offensive against Hamas.
An Israeli official said Netanyahu would meet with top security personnel to sign off on the operation, although discussions on a ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators, reportedly accepted by Hamas, remain uncertain. The Israeli military has warned medical staff and international organizations in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south ahead of the expanded offensive. Plans include calling up 60,000 reservists and extending the service of 20,000 more soldiers.
Rising Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis
Israeli strikes killed at least 36 Palestinians across Gaza on Thursday, with 14 victims reported while seeking humanitarian aid. The Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, estimates that over 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023, with 271 deaths linked to malnutrition, including 112 children.
Aid organizations continue to struggle to deliver supplies, warning that the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out.” Many families displaced from other parts of Gaza now face renewed danger, with tent camps destroyed by airstrikes, leaving residents searching the ashes for their belongings.
Protests and Public Opposition
Palestinians in Gaza City held protests against the offensive, carrying placards reading “Save Gaza” and “Stop the war, stop the savage attack”. Hundreds rallied despite the risk, calling for an end to displacement and bloodshed.
In Israel, families of hostages held by Hamas protested in Tel Aviv, urging the government to prioritize their safe release. Many fear that the expanded operation could endanger the approximately 20 hostages still alive.
International Response
Global condemnation has intensified, with leaders calling for an immediate ceasefire. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for hostage releases and warned that an Israeli operation in Gaza City could result in massive death and destruction.
The conflict traces back to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed roughly 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. While many hostages have been freed through ceasefires, Hamas continues to demand a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal for the release of the remaining captives.
