The plan is reportedly aimed at destroying what remains of the Hamas terror group and pressuring it to free the 50 hostages it is still holding, around 20 of them alive, after recent talks for a deal broke down. It would begin with taking over Gaza City, in the north of the Strip, and camps in the central Strip, driving around half of the enclave’s population southward toward the Mawasi humanitarian zone.
Despite a few ministers potentially opposing the plan, multiple reports said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would likely secure a majority within the high-level security cabinet to support the plan when it convenes at 6 p.m. Thursday. During a three-hour security discussion in a smaller group on Tuesday, Netanyahu was presented with several options for continued military operations in the Gaza Strip by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. The Netanyahu-backed plan reportedly focuses initially on seizing Gaza City and expanding aid distribution centers in coordination with the United States. (Read More)
