IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has drawn up plans for the military to further intensify operations against Hamas, according to a Channel 12 news report that quotes sources familiar with the proposal describing it as “the plan for taking over Gaza.”
The report says the plan is an alternative to the controversial “humanitarian city” in Rafah pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which Zamir opposes, and would be acted on if hostage talks collapse or in the case of a truce if no deal is reached to end the war following the 60-day ceasefire.
The proposal reportedly calls for the IDF to capture and hold much more territory in the Gaza Strip than it currently holds, with the military gradually taking more ground each day to show Hamas what it’s losing.
A separate report by the Israel Hayom daily stresses the plan would see the military encircle most parts of Gaza, not take over the entire enclave.
The newspaper also reports that Netanyahu has prevented Zamir from presenting the proposal to the security cabinet and blocked a smaller group of ministers whom the IDF chief briefed from deliberating it.
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