Escalation in Gaza: Israel’s New Offensive Draws Global Outcry

Israel has firmly rejected widespread international criticism following its security cabinet’s decision to approve a plan aimed at taking full control of Gaza City. Defence Minister Israel Katz stressed that condemnation from foreign governments and threats of sanctions would not deter Israel’s military objectives. He vowed that Israel’s enemies would encounter a united front capable of striking with formidable strength, signaling an unwavering commitment to the proposed course of action.

The plan, endorsed by Israel’s security leadership, outlines five key principles for ending the war. These include disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, demilitarising the Gaza Strip, taking security control of the territory, and setting up an “alternative civil administration” that excludes both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. According to Israeli media, the initial stage focuses on securing Gaza City and relocating its roughly one million residents to the south, alongside taking control of central refugee camps and areas believed to hold hostages.

A second phase of operations is reportedly scheduled to begin weeks later, with an emphasis on parallel increases in humanitarian aid deliveries. However, the move has triggered sharp criticism from global leaders, including those from the UK, France, and Canada, while the UN has voiced strong opposition. Germany has even announced the suspension of military exports to Israel, reflecting the deepening international rift over Israel’s approach in Gaza.

Inside Israel, the decision has also sparked domestic resistance, with some military officials and hostage families expressing alarm. Critics argue that an aggressive expansion risks endangering the lives of hostages still in Gaza and could further entrench the conflict. The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters warned that such action could lead to disaster for both the captives and Israeli soldiers, describing the policy as a path toward catastrophe.

Hamas, in response, declared that Israel’s intention to occupy Gaza City represents “a new war crime” and promised that the plan would come at a significant cost. UN human rights chief Volker Turk cautioned that the escalation would almost certainly result in greater forced displacement, more civilian deaths, and widespread destruction. He emphasised that the humanitarian toll was already catastrophic and that further offensive measures would only deepen the crisis.

The United States has adopted a softer stance, with former President Donald Trump stating it was “pretty much up to Israel” whether to fully occupy Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) currently control about three-quarters of Gaza, with nearly all of the territory’s 2.1 million people confined to the remaining quarter. UN estimates indicate that 87% of Gaza is now militarised or subject to evacuation orders, leaving civilians with little safe refuge.

The ongoing conflict has already displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s population, many of them multiple times. UN-backed experts warn that famine conditions are imminent, exacerbated by severe restrictions on goods entering the territory. Israel argues that such measures are necessary to weaken Hamas, but the resulting shortages have caused immense suffering. WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed that July marked the worst month for acute child malnutrition, affecting nearly 12,000 children under five.

The war traces back to the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. Israel’s subsequent large-scale military response has, according to Gaza’s health ministry, left at least 61,158 Palestinians dead. As the violence escalates, the humanitarian crisis deepens, with mounting calls from international agencies and human rights advocates for an urgent ceasefire and a return to negotiations.