Israel security cabinet approves plan to 'capture' Gaza, official says

Title: Israel Security Cabinet Approves Plan to ‘Capture’ Gaza, Official Says

The Israel Security Cabinet has given the go-ahead to a strategic plan aimed at “capturing” Gaza, according to a senior official. This decision came amid the Israeli military’s announcement of calling up tens of thousands of reservists in an attempt to further pressurize Hamas.

The decision, in one of the most crucial turn of events in the ongoing conflict, will likely escalate the tensions between Israel and Hamas. However, the official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media, has not provided further details about the timing or scope of the plan.

The move comes as Israel continues to counter rocket attacks from Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, and other factions. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been engaging in a large-scale air campaign over the past few weeks to degrade the capabilities of Hamas and other militant groups.

The IDF said it has struck over 1,000 targets in Gaza, including rocket production facilities, command centers, and tunnels used by militants to launch attacks. The campaign has been largely successful in limiting rocket fire from Gaza, but it has not stopped it entirely, with rockets still being fired towards Israeli cities and towns.

The call-up of tens of thousands of reservists is a move aimed at increasing pressure on Hamas. Reservists are typically used in Israel for various tasks, including reinforcing border security, assisting in civil defense, and in some cases, participating in combat operations.

“The call-up of reservists is a clear message to Hamas that Israel is prepared to escalate its military operations if necessary,” said Ephraim Kam, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

The decision to ‘capture’ Gaza could potentially mean a ground invasion, a move that would signal a significant escalation in the conflict. Israel last launched a ground invasion of Gaza in 2014 during Operation Protective Edge, which lasted seven weeks and resulted in the death of over 2,000 Palestinians and 73 Israelis.

However, it’s unclear whether Israel intends to fully reoccupy Gaza, which it evacuated in 2005, or whether the plan involves a limited operation to further degrade the capabilities of Hamas and other militant groups.

The international community has called for a de-escalation of the conflict, with the United Nations, European Union, and various countries expressing concern over the rising civilian casualties. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that the ongoing violence has resulted in a “high number of civilians, including women and children, killed and injured.”

While Israel maintains that it’s doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, critics argue that its tactics, including the possible ‘capture’ of Gaza, disproportionately affect civilians and violate international law.

As the situation unfolds, the world watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. The decision to ‘capture’ Gaza represents a significant shift in Israel’s strategy, and its implications will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the trajectory of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.