Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir has announced plans to intensify the ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza City. During a recent visit to troops in the Gaza Strip, Zamir indicated that an expanded offensive is imminent, following approval from Israel’s Security Cabinet earlier this month. The strategy aims to capture Gaza City and central refugee camps to dismantle remaining Hamas strongholds in the region.
The operation seeks to possibly take control of the entire Gaza Strip, which could necessitate the relocation of approximately 1 million Palestinians currently residing in Gaza City to other areas within the territory. Zamir stated, “Soon we will move on to the next phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, in which we will continue to enhance the strikes against Hamas in Gaza City until its decisive defeat.” This operation, which was launched in early May, is part of Israel’s ongoing efforts to weaken Hamas significantly.
Zamir emphasized that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will deploy all available capabilities—on land, in the air, and at sea—to achieve a decisive strike against Hamas. He made these remarks on an IDF Telegram post following a field tour in Gaza. The military chief asserted that the IDF has already accomplished many objectives in prior operations, noting that “Hamas no longer possesses the same capabilities it had before the operation; we dealt a severe blow.”
A critical aspect of this military campaign is the responsibility to secure the release of hostages taken during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. During those assaults, militants captured approximately 250 hostages, with around 50 believed to still be in Gaza. Zamir highlighted the military’s “moral duty” to bring these individuals home, both alive and deceased.
As the situation develops, the humanitarian implications of the expanded offensive remain a concern. The potential relocation of nearly 1 million people poses significant challenges, both logistically and ethically, as the conflict continues to affect countless lives in the region.
The international community watches closely as Israel prepares for this next phase of its military operations, raising questions about the future of Gaza and the broader implications for Israeli-Palestinian relations.
