How will Israel occupy Gaza City?

The Israeli Security Cabinet has approved a plan for a large-scale operation targeting Hamas’s last remaining positions in Gaza City. The operation will involve intense urban combat, mass evacuations, and widespread destruction.

Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s description of Gaza City and its central camps as “Hamas’s last strongholds,” the Security Cabinet convened yesterday evening. In a statement today, Defense Minister Israel Katz said:

“Yesterday, we approved the plans prepared by the Israeli army to defeat Hamas in Gaza. This will involve intense combat, civilian evacuations, and military operations. Very soon, the gates of hell will open for Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza. They will either accept Israel’s terms and end the war, or Gaza City, Hamas’s capital, will become like Rafah and Beit Hanoun.”

Tunnel threat and demolition plan

According to a report in Ynet News based on military intelligence, Hamas is rebuilding its tunnel networks even in areas where operations have previously occurred. It is reported that large and critical underground networks exist in Gaza City, some of which were not detected during the initial operation 18 months ago.

The new operation is expected to be conducted similarly to “Gideon’s Chariots.” New military routes will be opened around the city, advances will be made along main roads, and numerous buildings will be demolished. As in Rafah and Khan Younis, thousands of structures will be razed. It was noted that east of Khan Younis, the Paratrooper Brigade demolished more than two thousand three-to-four-story buildings on the grounds that they “belonged to terrorists or were connected to tunnel entrances.”

An Israeli army commander told Ynet:

“The buildings give terrorists the ability to exit tunnels and dig new ones. Demolishing them is not just about inflicting damage; it holds great operational value.”

High-rise buildings as a new front

The urban landscape of Gaza City differs from that of Khan Younis or Beit Hanoun. In the western neighborhoods, heavily damaged 10-15 story buildings are still standing. It is assessed that these structures could house Hamas’s anti-tank teams, snipers, or lookouts and conceal extensive tunnel networks. Therefore, it is stated that large quantities of explosives and heavy engineering vehicles will be used to demolish such buildings. However, according to the report, some of the equipment has been worn down by the 22-month war that has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.

Evacuation of one million civilians planned

The ground operation is expected to be postponed until September. The primary reason for this is the necessity of evacuating approximately one million Gazans to the south. According to the report, this complex process requires the cooperation of the United Nations. In the next phase of the plan, the Southern Command intends to encircle Gaza City from all directions and advance toward the high-rise buildings in the west.

This will be followed by plans for the course of the fighting, timing, potential scenarios, logistics, exercises, and the concentration of forces along the Netzarim Corridor and the border. Air strikes are expected to be carried out before the operation.

Fatigue among reserve soldiers

Tens of thousands of reserve soldiers have received call-up notices. Some will be summoned for duty starting in early September. Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Itamar Harel from the Armored Corps told the Ynet studio that this was the fifth time he had been called to duty since the war began:

“On one hand, we are doing everything we can to bring the hostages back. But on the other hand, there is both physical and psychological fatigue. Our family and work lives are deteriorating. The state keeps calling us back, but it is not conscripting other sectors, including the ultra-Orthodox.”

Harel also emphasized that conflicting statements from politicians were causing confusion among the soldiers: “When Katz and Zamir argue in the media, it doesn’t help us. It’s still unclear how our mission will conclude this story.”

It was also noted that the active-duty brigades have been instructed to prepare for a new ground operation after the last major operation in northern Gaza 20 months ago, but for now, they will continue with their regular duties. The training schedule is expected to change as preparations advance.