Israel’s security cabinet has formally approved an aggressive new military strategy in Gaza, which includes the conquest and occupation of the territory, even as aid agencies and the United Nations warn of imminent famine and humanitarian collapse.
The plan, reportedly backed unanimously by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli ministers, will expand operations across Gaza. This includes intensifying airstrikes, mobilising tens of thousands of reservists, and pushing Gaza’s population further south under the guise of “protection.”
An unnamed Israeli official confirmed the decision on Monday, stating that the strategy would involve “powerful strikes against Hamas” and territorial control in Gaza. The announcement comes as the war, reignited on March 18 after a short-lived ceasefire, continues to cause mass casualties. Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 2,400 people have been killed in the past six weeks alone, raising the total death toll to over 52,500.
Hostages and Political Fallout
While the Israeli government claims the renewed offensive is aimed at liberating hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 attack, critics argue that the strategy endangers those captives. A leading hostage family campaign group accused the government of “sacrificing” lives by choosing full-scale military escalation over negotiations.
The October 7 Hamas assault led to 1,218 deaths on the Israeli side, most of them civilians. Around 251 people were taken hostage, with 58 reportedly still held in Gaza — at least 34 presumed dead, according to Israeli military sources.
Trump Visit and International Diplomacy
Israeli media suggest the Gaza conquest plan may be delayed until after U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the region. Meanwhile, Israel continues to push controversial proposals — backed by Trump — for the “voluntary departure” of Gazans to neighbouring Arab countries like Egypt and Jordan, an idea widely condemned across the Middle East and globally.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The Gaza Strip remains under a suffocating blockade, with aid organisations calling the situation catastrophic. The UN and a coalition of NGOs accuse Israel of using food aid as a weapon of war, warning that new Israeli-controlled delivery mechanisms amount to “political blackmail.”
“There is currently enough food,” Israel’s cabinet said in a statement, contradicting on-the-ground reports from humanitarian groups who describe starvation-like conditions affecting Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
Hamas called the new aid scheme a “military strategy” disguised as humanitarian relief, aimed at dismantling the group’s governance structures while intensifying civilian suffering.
The UN has refused to participate in what it calls a plan that “contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles.” The Emergency Relief Coordinator and UN Secretary-General both issued strong statements refusing to endorse any aid strategy that undermines humanitarian neutrality.
As Israel accelerates its military campaign and formalises plans to occupy Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire, global criticism grows, and diplomatic tensions intensify. The coming weeks could determine not just the future of Gaza, but the credibility of international responses to humanitarian law violations in conflict zones.
South Africa Tells ICJ: Israel Is Starving Gaza by Design
{Source: The Citizen}
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