Israel's security cabinet has approved a strategy to capture Gaza City, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Friday morning.
The conflict, which began with Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, has left 1,200 people dead and more than 250 captured, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, the destruction of large parts of Gaza and the threat of starvation for some two million Palestinians living in the territory.
Ahead of a security cabinet meeting that began on Thursday and lasted overnight, Mr Netanyahu said Israel intended to regain control of all the territory and eventually hand it over to friendly Arab forces opposing Hamas.
However, these intentions may not be realized, possibly indicating the doubts of the Israeli general, who reportedly warned that it could endanger the lives of about 20 surviving hostages held by Hamas and further complicate the situation for the Israeli army after almost two years of conflicts in the region.
Meanwhile, mediators from Egypt and Qatar are working on a new format that would include the release of all hostages – both living and dead – at once in exchange for an end to the war in Gaza and an Israeli withdrawal from the region, two Arab officials told The Associated Press.
Many families of the hostages are protesting Israel's plans, fearing that further escalation could threaten their loved ones.
A statement from Mr Netanyahu's office after the meeting said the military “will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to civilians outside the combat zones.”
Israel has repeatedly attacked Gaza City and carried out numerous raids, but has returned to other areas as militants regroup.
It is currently one of the few areas of Gaza that has not been turned into an Israeli buffer zone and is not under evacuation orders.
A large-scale ground operation could displace tens of thousands of people and significantly complicate the delivery of food to the area.
It is unclear how many people live in the city, which was the largest in Gaza before the conflict began.
Hundreds of thousands of people left Gaza under evacuation orders in the early weeks of the conflict, but many returned during a ceasefire earlier this year.
Israel already controls about three-quarters of the devastated territory.
Families of hostages held in Gaza fear conflict will escalate
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
