Israel Pushes for Gaza City Offensive: Security Imperative Faces Humanitarian Alarm
Israel’s military on Tuesday ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of a sweeping offensive, a move framed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as essential to secure Israel’s future and dismantle Hamas’ remaining strongholds.
Netanyahu defended the action, stressing that Israel had “no choice” but to continue its campaign. He argued that Hamas’ refusal to surrender its weapons and its strategy of regrouping in heavily populated areas leave Israel with only one path forward: military victory.
According to Israeli officials, capturing Gaza City is central to preventing Hamas from reorganising, rebuilding its networks, and launching fresh attacks on Israeli civilians.
From October 7 to Today
The war traces back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters staged a surprise cross-border assault, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. The attack stunned Israel, hardened public opinion, and reshaped national security priorities.
In the nearly two years since, Israeli forces have seized control of about 75% of Gaza, systematically dismantling Hamas’ infrastructure.
For Israel, the campaign is not only retaliation but also a long-term security necessity, aimed at ensuring Hamas can never again threaten its people.
Hamas, however, maintains it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is recognised, ensuring a deadlock that fuels further violence.
Humanitarian Costs and Global Pushback
The offensive has come at immense cost. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports more than 62,000 Palestinian deaths, near-total displacement of the 2.2 million population, and a looming famine. Large parts of Gaza lie in ruins.
International critics warn that Israel’s plan to demilitarise the entire strip and impose security control risks worsening this humanitarian collapse.
With Gaza City home to over one million Palestinians, aid agencies and foreign governments fear the new offensive could tip the enclave into total devastation.
Diplomacy at a Standstill
Mediation led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt has so far failed to secure a ceasefire or resolve the hostage crisis. Israeli authorities estimate that of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, just 20 remain alive.
The Crossroads
For Israel, the fight is framed as an existential struggle—a campaign to remove Hamas’ ability to strike and to ensure no haven remains for terrorism. For much of the international community, however, the looming Gaza City assault represents a humanitarian disaster in the making, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.
As the offensive nears, Israel is pressing its case that security must come first, even as critics insist that without addressing the humanitarian catastrophe, lasting peace will remain out of reach.
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