Netanyahu Weighs Gaza Evacuation Plan: A Controversial Strategy to Pressure Hamas
Staff Editor Israeli Prime Minister Considers Plan to Evacuate Northern Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering a controversial plan to evacuate all Palestinian civilians from northern Gaza, including Gaza City, to lay siege to Hamas and secure the release of hostages. The proposal, which has gained traction among some Israeli officials, aims to turn the area into a military zone and cut off supplies to Hamas fighters.
The plan, originating from a group of retired Israeli military generals, has been formally presented to the Israeli cabinet and a powerful parliamentary committee. Giora Eiland, a retired Israeli military general spearheading the proposal, has produced a video outlining the strategy, which involves providing food and water to those who leave while transforming northern Gaza into a restricted military territory.
According to Israeli national broadcaster Kan, Netanyahu expressed that the plan “makes a lot of sense” during a closed-door meeting with the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. However, an Israeli official clarified that while the Prime Minister viewed the plan positively, it does not guarantee its adoption.
The proposal has garnered support from 27 members of Knesset, including three sitting ministers, who urged the government to implement the plan in a letter obtained by CNN. Proponents argue that the strategy could effectively pressure Hamas leadership and potentially lead to the release of the 101 hostages still held in Gaza.
Critics, however, raise concerns about the plan’s long-term implications and its impact on civilian populations. The proposal does not specify if, when, or how civilians would be allowed to return to northern Gaza, leaving many questions unanswered.
As the Israeli government considers this and other strategies to dismantle Hamas’s civilian control, the head of the Israel Defense Forces’ strategic division is expected to present several alternatives to Netanyahu in the coming days. The international community watches closely as Israel weighs its options in the ongoing conflict.
