Israel is poised to escalate its military operations against Hamas in Gaza City, as indicated by Eyal Zamir, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). During a visit to troops in the Gaza Strip, Zamir confirmed that the Israeli Security Cabinet approved plans earlier this month for a significant expansion of the ongoing offensive. This new phase aims to capture Gaza City and key refugee camps to dismantle remaining Hamas strongholds within the conflict-ridden territory.
The proposed operations may require the relocation of approximately 1 million Palestinians currently residing in Gaza City to other areas of the Gaza Strip. Zamir stated, “Soon we will move on to the next phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, in which we will continue to enhance the strikes against Hamas in Gaza City until its decisive defeat.” This operation, which began in early May, represents a critical effort to dismantle the military capabilities of Hamas.
During a field tour on Sunday, Zamir emphasized that the IDF plans to leverage its comprehensive capabilities across land, air, and sea to deliver a decisive blow to Hamas. According to the IDF, earlier operations have already achieved significant objectives, reducing Hamas’s capabilities substantially. Zamir remarked, “Hamas no longer possesses the same capabilities it had before the operation; we dealt a severe blow.”
In the context of ongoing hostilities, the IDF also holds a moral responsibility to secure the release of hostages taken during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Militants captured around 250 hostages during the assault, with approximately 50 still believed to be held in Gaza. Of those, about 20 are thought to be alive.
As the situation evolves, international observers are closely monitoring Israel’s military strategies and the humanitarian implications for the Palestinian population. The developments in Gaza continue to raise profound concerns regarding the impact on civilians and the broader regional stability.
