The Israeli military has set its sights on seizing 75% of the Gaza Strip within two months. This bold plan is part of a new ground offensive aimed at dismantling Hamas.
As of May 25, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced this ambitious goal. It’s the latest development in a conflict that resumed on March 18, after a two-month ceasefire expired. Since then, the IDF has deployed thousands of soldiers into Gaza, preparing for a large-scale ground operation to root out Hamas militants and end their control over the territory.
When the ground operation begins, Palestinian civilians in Gaza will be pushed into small, designated “safe zones”. The IDF has identified three areas, including the Mawasi district in southern Gaza, which Israel previously declared a “humanitarian zone”.
According to IDF estimates, around 700,000 Palestinians are currently in Mawasi, while 300,000 to 350,000 are in the central region. The remaining one million or so are in Gaza City. This means over two million Palestinians will be confined to approximately 25% of the Gaza Strip, with the rest under Israeli control. The military plans to dismantle Hamas’ infrastructure, demolish most buildings, and occupy the area indefinitely.
The IDF expects the operation to take just two months to capture 75% of Gaza. Currently, Israeli forces control around 40% of the territory.
Source: Times of Israel