Israel will go ahead with plan of conquering Gaza City

The Israeli defence minister has given the green light on August 20th for a plan to conquer Gaza City, as reported by Al-Monitor via AFP. 

Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved the call-up of 60,000 reservists, as the pressure mounts on Hamas while mediators pursue their goal of a ceasefire. Katz’s decision comes after Hamas agreed to the most recent proposal for a Gaza ceasefire.

Hamas has approved a framework that proposes an initial 60-day truce, a staggered liberation of captives, and the release of some Palestinian detainees. The framework also includes provisions that allow the entry of aid into Gaza. Israeli forces have systematically prevented aid from entering the Gaza Strip, even going as far as intercepting the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s Madleen ship, which carried rice, baby formula, and medical supplies. Amongst the 12 activists on board was Greta Thunberg.

Israel has also detained an immense amount of Palestinians in its prisons, with the number in August reaching 10,800. This is the highest it has been in 25 years, as stated on August 13th by the Palestinian Prisoners Information Office.

The situation enforced by Katz has been “catastrophic,” according to Mustafa Qazzaat, the head of the emergency committee in the Gaza municipality. He spoke to AFP, revealing that “large numbers” of people were leaving their areas of residence, with the majority of those uprooted “on roads and streets without shelter.” 

The security cabinet of Israel had also okayed the Gaza City plan in August, despite international pressure to end the war. The German government has said that it “rejects the escalation” of Israel’s military campaign.

Netanyahu has even experienced disapproval from Israelis, with thousands of people taking to the streets in Tel Aviv on August 9th to stand against him. There were purportedly over 100,000 attendees at the demonstration.

Al-Monitor via AFP, Maghrebi.org