The Israeli military escalated its operations around Gaza City on November 8, 2023, as President Donald Trump prepared to convene a White House meeting focused on post-war plans for the region. Israel faces increasing pressure domestically and internationally to conclude its nearly two-year campaign in Gaza. The military aims to take control of the territory’s largest city, amid a humanitarian crisis that the United Nations has described as a famine.
Mediators have proposed a draft ceasefire and hostage release agreement, which has been accepted by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. This group initiated the current conflict with an attack in October 2023. However, Israel has not yet issued an official response to the proposal. The Israeli military stated its forces are “operating on the outskirts of Gaza City to locate and dismantle terror infrastructure sites above and below ground.”
Residents of the Zeitoun neighborhood reported severe bombardments overnight. One resident, Tala al-Khatib, 29, described the situation, stating, “Warplanes struck several times, and drones fired throughout the night.” She noted that many homes in Zeitoun were destroyed and expressed the fear that “wherever you flee, death follows you.” Another resident, Abdel Hamid al-Sayfi, 62, shared his experience of being confined indoors, saying, “Whoever steps outside is fired upon by the drones.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has vowed to destroy Gaza City if Hamas does not agree to cease hostilities on Israel’s terms. This statement followed the defense ministry’s endorsement of a military strategy aimed at capturing the city and authorizing the mobilization of around 60,000 reservists. Concurrently, the United Nations officially declared a famine in the Gaza governorate, attributing it to the “systematic obstruction of aid” by Israel.
As global scrutiny intensifies, Steve Witkoff, special envoy for Trump, announced a meeting at the White House to discuss a comprehensive plan for post-war Gaza. He emphasized the importance of this meeting, stating, “We’ve got a large meeting in the White House… and it’s a very comprehensive plan we’re putting together on the next day.”
Trump previously proposed a controversial plan for the Gaza Strip, suggesting that the United States take control, displace its current inhabitants, and redevelop the area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed this idea, which drew significant backlash from European and Arab nations.
Tensions continue to rise as Israeli security officials convened to discuss the ongoing conflict, while tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv to demand an end to the war and the return of hostages. Netanyahu declined to provide details about the security cabinet’s discussions but asserted, “It started in Gaza and it will end in Gaza. We will not leave those monsters there.”
In the backdrop, Hamas has indicated acceptance of a ceasefire proposal that would involve a phased release of hostages held in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. In Doha, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that mediators are still awaiting a response from Israel.
The ongoing conflict, ignited by Hamas’s attack in October, has resulted in the deaths of at least 1,219 people, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. Out of 251 hostages taken during the attack, 49 remain in Gaza, with Israeli military reports indicating that 27 of these individuals are deceased. The retaliatory offensive by Israel has led to the deaths of at least 62,819 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, based on figures from Hamas-run Gaza’s health ministry, which the United Nations regards as credible.
