Reports indicate the plan involves the forced displacement of Palestinians and the occupation of Gaza.
According to multiple news sources citing unnamed officials, the Israeli government has reportedly approved a strategy for a full military occupation of Gaza, involving the forced relocation of its Palestinian residents to the territory’s southern region.
AP sources say the plan is designed to help Israel achieve its objectives in the war: defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages held in Gaza. Israel claims the militant group is holding 59 captives, with about 35 presumed dead.
Media sources report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet unanimously approved the plan on Monday morning. The Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Eyal Zamir, has also reportedly announced the mobilization of tens of thousands of additional reservists.
“The plan will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories, moving the Gaza population south for their protection,” an Israeli official is quoted as saying by Agence France Presse.
The AP reports the move is likely to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, potentially worsening an already critical humanitarian situation.
Zamir’s mobilization announcement on Sunday stressed the need for more troops to “increase pressure” on Hamas. The declared goal of the Israeli offensive is the elimination of the militant group, in response to a Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023.
The attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel and the capture of numerous hostages. Israeli bombardments have reportedly caused over 50,000 deaths in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians.
Israel has faced accusations of indiscriminate bombing, intentional destruction of civilian infrastructure, and hindering humanitarian aid. The humanitarian situation has significantly worsened due to an Israeli blockade, causing severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and other necessities. International organizations have voiced serious concerns about the crisis and its effects on civilians.
In February, US President Donald Trump suggested the “voluntary” relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to countries like Jordan and Egypt, arguing it would enable the transformation of the enclave into a resort area.
While many nations have criticized Trump’s suggestion, Netanyahu reportedly described it as a “remarkable idea” that warrants “pursuit.”
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