Israel has authorised plans to call up 60,000 soldiers to seize and occupy Gaza City, a move that could force hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee and deepen the humanitarian catastrophe, according to defence minister Israel Katz. The offensive comes as Gaza’s health ministry reports the death toll has exceeded 62,000, mostly women and children.
Israel’s former intelligence chief Aharon Haliva was recently recorded saying that “for every person on October 7, 50 Palestinians must die”, a statement described by critics as explicitly describing a war crime. The planned operation would compound the suffering of already exhausted and traumatised civilians.
International pressure is mounting. French President Emmanuel Macron warned the offensive would bring “true disaster”, while Jordan said it would “kill all prospects for peace”. A Reuters survey found that 58% of Americans now support recognition of a Palestinian state, and 59% view Israeli actions in Gaza as excessive.
An alternative ceasefire proposal, already accepted by Hamas and reportedly almost identical to a US-backed plan Israel previously agreed to, remains on the table. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing a corruption trial and reliant on far-right coalition partners, has so far resisted ending the war. Meanwhile, the US has imposed sanctions on more International Criminal Court officials over their case against Netanyahu.
