The Chief of Staff of the Israeli army approved a new plan for future military operations "planned in Gaza," according to a statement released on Wednesday. For the past two weeks, tensions between the military high command and Benjamin Netanyahu's government had been openly displayed, particularly regarding the strategy to adopt in the Palestinian enclave.
A few days earlier, Benjamin Netanyahu had unveiled his plan to take full control of Gaza City. On Wednesday, August 13, the Israeli army confirmed that this plan had been officially approved.
Witnesses reported unusually intense airstrikes on the city, accompanied by the presence of Israeli tanks and powerful explosions in the Tal al-Hawa and Zeitoun districts, where several houses were razed by the armed forces.
According to Civil Defense and hospital sources, 75 Palestinians – including many children – were killed by Israeli bombardments and gunfire. Among them were 34 people waiting to receive humanitarian aid, as well as five members of the same family, victims of an airstrike on Khan Younès, in the southern Gaza Strip.
After nearly two years of war, Israel intends to seize the northern part of Gaza as well as the surrounding refugee camps. These areas, among the most densely populated in the territory, are considered by the Hebrew state to be the last strongholds of Hamas, which the army wants to dismantle.
For its part, the Palestinian Islamist movement denounced "brutal incursions into Gaza City" and a "dangerous escalation orchestrated by Israel."
At the request of Benjamin Netanyahu's military cabinet, Israeli forces – who already control about 75% of the territory – are preparing this new phase of offensive with the stated objective of freeing all hostages held in Gaza and "eliminating" Hamas. Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir "approved the broad outlines of the operational plan," the army said, without giving a specific timeline.
In the streets of Gaza City, Palestinian families are once again fleeing, carrying their belongings and mattresses on carts or bicycles.
"For several days, tanks have been advancing in southeastern Zeitoun, destroying homes. Other armored vehicles are also progressing south of Tal al-Hawa," testified Abou Ahmed Abbas, 46, whose house was destroyed. "The strikes are extremely violent and have intensified, accompanied by artillery fire since Sunday," he added.
"The explosions are enormous, the airstrikes are multiplying... The tanks remain in place and I saw dozens of civilians fleeing to the west of the city," said Fatoum, 51, who lives in a tent with her husband and daughter in Tal al-Hawa.
On Wednesday evening, Benjamin Netanyahu responded to former Israeli security officials who are calling for an end to the conflict: "I respect them, but they have forgotten what the word victory means... The political solution they propose is actually equivalent to surrender."
The Chief of Staff also insisted on the need to "strengthen the preparation and availability of troops for the recruitment of reservists," a sensitive subject given that ultra-Orthodox individuals – potentially tens of thousands of men – still refuse conscription.
In a statement, Hamas called for "maintaining massive mobilization against the aggression, genocide and famine" in Gaza, announcing "days of marches and anger against the occupation and its allies" on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, in front of "Zionist and American embassies" worldwide.
Source: France24, 25/08/14