Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised his military to move ahead with a major operation to seize Gaza City, while also instructing negotiators to restart talks for the release of hostages. He called the decision a “decisive stage” of the conflict and said Israel was close to “decisive victory” over Hamas.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are preparing to launch what officials describe as a “gradual, precise and targeted” campaign in and around Gaza City. The assault could begin within days.
Troops have already stepped up operations in Zeitoun and the Jabalia refugee camp, with shelling reported in Sabra and Tufa. Military planners say the offensive will involve mass displacement, with up to a million Gazans forced to leave their homes.
Residents in Gaza City say they are bracing for the “beginning of a new war”. The IDF has called up 60,000 reservists and extended service for 20,000 more. Officials have contacted aid agencies in northern Gaza, urging them to move south ahead of the attack.
Along with military escalation, Netanyahu has directed officials to re-engage in talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt. A current proposal seeks a 60-day truce in exchange for the release of ten living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies, with about 200 Palestinian prisoners freed in return. Hamas has indicated it will agree
Qatar said the plan is the same as the one Israel previously agreed to, while Egypt said “the ball is in Israel’s court”. Netanyahu has avoided specifics, saying only that any deal must secure the release of all captives at once. Brigadier General Amir Avivi, representing an organisation of senior officers, warned that a partial deal would undo military gains. He insisted Israel must dismantle Hamas to bring back the hostages.
Israel estimates around 50 captives remain in Gaza, with about 20 thought to be alive. Critics accuse Netanyahu of “negotiation under fire”, imposing terms without compromise. Egypt says it has not received confirmation that Israel will join the talks.
The prospect of a Gaza City offensive adds to what the UN has labelled a catastrophic humanitarian situation. More than 70 per cent of the territory has been destroyed, forcing families to flee repeatedly. Even declared safe zones, such as Al-Munasera camp in Deir al-Balah, have come under fire. UNRWA has said that 90 per cent of Gaza’s population has been displaced. Shelters are overcrowded, sanitation is collapsing and famine is spreading. The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported 271 deaths linked to malnutrition, including 112 children. Doctors warn that wounded children are dying because they cannot recover without food.
Egypt has accused Israel of blocking thousands of aid trucks at Rafah, including convoys carrying wheelchairs and intensive care equipment. Officials describe a “complete famine”. Israel, however, has dismissed reports of hunger as fabricated.
The Palestinian Interior Ministry called the planned Gaza City takeover a “death sentence” for its residents. The Health Ministry warned that the destruction of medical facilities would deprive thousands of treatment. According to Palestinian officials, at least 62,064 people have been killed since October 7, 2023, most of them civilians. The UN says the figures are credible.
In Gaza City, Palestinians have protested against forced displacement, waving flags among the ruins, while in Tel Aviv, demonstrators have demanded the release of hostages and called for an end to the war, warning that military escalation threatens captives’ lives.
Abroad, criticism is growing. Britain and 20 other governments recently condemned Israel’s approval of a large West Bank settlement, warning it would inflame violence. Several of Israel’s traditional allies, excluding the United States, have urged a ceasefire.
The Media Freedom Coalition has demanded that Israel allow foreign journalists into Gaza, highlighting the deaths of 184 Palestinian reporters. Proceedings at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are examining whether war crimes, including the use of starvation, have been committed.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, insists that Israel is close to defeating Hamas. Yet with Gaza facing famine, mass displacement, and international scrutiny, his government faces pressure to prove that military escalation can achieve its stated goals while delivering the release of hostages.
