Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the green light for the seizure of Gaza City, despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
The move is part of Israel’s plan to topple Hamas after nearly two years of war.
Netanyahu stated that he would approve plans for seizing Gaza City while restarting negotiations aimed at returning all remaining captives and ending the war, but only on “terms acceptable to Israel”.
“We are in the decision-making phase,” Netanyahu said, adding that instructions had been issued to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all hostages and an end to the war on Israel’s terms.
The operation could start within days, with Israeli forces having already stepped up attacks in the area and thousands of Palestinians fleeing their homes.
The Israeli army plans to call up 60,000 reservists and extend the service of 100,000 more.
This development comes as Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal from mediators Qatar and Egypt, which Israel has not yet responded to.
The proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living captives held in Gaza by Hamas and 18 bodies, in exchange for Israel releasing about 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Marwan Bishara, political analyst, likened Netanyahu’s announcement to “negotiation under fire”, stating that there will be no stoppage of fighting and no breaks in the “genocide”.
He emphasized that Israel is dictating all terms and not listening to anyone, with a green light from Washington.
The conflict has already led to significant humanitarian concerns, with at least 48 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn, including 16 aid seekers.
Two more people have starved to death in Gaza in the past 24 hours, raising the number of Palestinians who have died from Israeli-induced hunger to 271, including 112 children, since the war began.
The Palestinian Ministry of Interior denounced Israel’s push to seize Gaza City as a “death sentence” for the more than one million people living there.
The Palestinian Health Ministry expressed rejection of any step that would undermine the health system, following systematic destruction carried out by Israeli occupation authorities.
This would deprive over one million people of their right to treatment and put lives at imminent risk.
Rabah Abu Elias, a 67-year-old father of seven, described the situation as a “bitter, bitter situation”, stating that survival is uncertain as long as the war continues. He questioned the decision to leave Gaza City or stay, given the ongoing explosions and deaths.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees estimated that 90% of Gaza’s residents have been displaced, warning that shelters are deteriorating and further displacement will worsen the catastrophic situation.
The international community has expressed concerns over the plan, with world powers and Middle East countries condemning the Gaza City seizure as a needless protraction of the war that will deepen civilian suffering and starvation in Gaza.
The US has said it backs Israel’s military plans and will help a new aid-distribution network cope with Palestinians displaced by the advance.