Israel pounds Gaza city as controversial occupation nears

Israel’s military pounded Gaza City on Wednesday with another 123 people killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas.

The assault comes as the Israeli government prepares for a major military operation to seize the city — part of the Gaza occupation plan which critics warn could endanger hostages, displace more than a million residents and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

The planned offensive, led by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who opposes the move, follows months of debate within Israel’s security cabinet and has drawn international concern over its potential scale, civilian impact and legal implications. Here are the latest developments.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir is expected to present Prime Minister Netanyahu with a new plan for seizing Gaza City, after earlier, more cautious proposals were rejected. According to Haaretz, some members of the security cabinet want an operation as devastating as the one that levelled nearby Beit Hanoun.

The takeover would involve operating in a city now holding about 1.2 million people, including 500,000 displaced from other parts of Gaza. The IDF anticipates facing small, well-prepared Hamas guerrilla units, led by the group’s last senior commander, Izz al-Din al-Haddad. Zamir’s plan calls for the evacuation of the entire civilian population within 7–10 days via Salah al-Din Road to a crowded humanitarian zone in Muwasi, forcing people into just a quarter of the Strip. Artillery may be used to push residents to leave, though many are expected to remain in damaged buildings.