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Israeli Army Plans to Annex Gaza Areas as "Security Zones"
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These escalations follow the collapse of the ceasefire agreement, with Israel accusing Hamas of obstructing negotiations, while the movement insists on its commitment to the deal while demanding Israe
Israeli media reports have revealed advanced plans to reoccupy parts of the Gaza Strip, following statements by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz about expanding military operations.
The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth cited military sources stating that the plan has not yet received full approval from top political and security officials but is in its final planning stages.
The sources explained that the current strategy relies on gradual control over specific areas in Gaza, alongside intensified airstrikes targeting resistance elements, in an attempt to pressure Hamas’s stance in negotiations.
The report noted that a return to large-scale ground combat remains unlikely, especially due to troop shortages, as the Israeli military has canceled leave for many regular soldiers to compensate for the deficit.
In an official statement, Katz asserted that "Israel will seize large areas of Gaza and annex them to its security zones."
He added that the operation would include "forced evacuations" of civilians from conflict zones, urging Gazans to "overthrow Hamas" and secure the release of Israeli captives as a condition for ending the war.
These remarks coincided with continued Israeli bombardment of Gaza, where medical sources reported at least 55 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes since dawn.
The Israeli military also issued new evacuation orders in northern Gaza, particularly in Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, following similar directives in Rafah in the south.
Israel had previously established a buffer zone inside Gaza, extending security zones demarcated before the war, including the so-called "Netzarim Corridor."
In a related context, Israel is considering plans to facilitate "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza, echoing earlier calls by U.S. President Donald Trump to "evacuate Gaza and develop it as a coastal resort."
This escalation follows the collapse of the March 18 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel accused Hamas of "obstructing negotiations" by refusing to release more captives, while Hamas denied these claims, reaffirming its commitment to the agreement while demanding a transition to Phase Two—which includes Israeli troop withdrawal and increased humanitarian aid.
