Israel's Plans to Occupy Gaza Raise Fears and Uncertainty Among Palestinians and Hostage Families

The prospect of a full-scale occupation of the Gaza Strip by Israel is casting a shadow of fear and uncertainty over Palestinians, who have been exhausted by nearly two years of Israeli bombardment and gunfire and are now facing a growing starvation crisis. The plan, which officials are set to discuss this week, has also sparked concerns among the families of Israeli hostages still in captivity, who fear that expanded military operations in Gaza will put their loved ones at risk.

Key Takeaways:

• Israel's plans to occupy Gaza, which could lead to a full-scale military campaign, are set to be discussed by officials this week, raising fears among Palestinians and hostage families.
• The plan would require approval from Israel's security cabinet, which includes Netanyahu's ultranationalist coalition partners Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have argued that a full conquest of Gaza and the establishment of Jewish settlements is the only way to achieve Israel's war goal of eliminating Palestinian militant organization Hamas.
• More than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war nearly two years ago, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, with the majority being women and children.
• Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the IDF, has called on the IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to "stand firm against the political echelon that is dragging us into an eternal war in the Gaza Strip."
• Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, has vowed to "professionally implement" the government's military plans for Gaza, which include the defeat of Hamas and the return of Israeli hostages.
• The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that eight people have died of malnutrition, bringing the total number of people who have died from starvation during the war to 188, including 94 children.
• The U.N. Human Rights Chief, Volker Tȭrk, has described the images of people starving in Gaza as "heart-rending and intolerable" and has called on Israel to allow more humanitarian assistance to enter the Gaza Strip.

Statistics:

• More than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war nearly two years ago (Gaza Health Ministry).
• 188 people, including 94 children, have died from starvation during the war (Gaza Health Ministry).
• 20 Israeli hostages are presumed to be alive among the 50 still held by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza (Hostage and Missing Families Forum).
• 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 (reported by various sources).

Sources:

• The Washington Post
• Army Radio
• Gaza Health Ministry
• U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Tȭrk
• Hostage and Missing Families Forum
• Israeli Defense Ministry (COGAT)