Israel Approves Gaza City Seizure Plan

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved a military operation to seize Gaza City, state broadcaster Kan reported, as Tel Aviv moves to extend control over the enclave.

The campaign, called “Gideon’s Chariots 2,” is expected to last until 2026 and involve up to 130,000 reservists, according to Galei Tzahal army radio.

Katz declared that Gaza “will no longer look the same” once the operation is complete. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to displace civilians and clear the remaining areas not yet under Israeli control, promising “safe zones” with aid but offering no details on how two million residents could be moved.

The announcement sparked immediate backlash from families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, who warned the plan endangers their relatives. They accused Netanyahu of ignoring a ceasefire and prisoner swap proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, calling the decision “a stab in the hearts of the families and the public in Israel.”

Hamas has accepted the proposed 60-day truce, which includes releasing half the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israel has not responded.

The war began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 assault that killed about 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages. Israel’s counteroffensive has since killed over 56,000 Palestinians and displaced much of the population, while fighting has spread to Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran. U.N.-backed experts warn famine is unfolding in Gaza amid shortages of food, medicine, and water.