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By Robert Birsel and Tom O'Connor
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Israel has approved plans for an offensive to take over Gaza City with a focus on "terror infrastructure," in particular a tunnel network, an Israeli military official said, adding that keeping civilians out of harm's way was a "top priority."
Why It Matters
Israel's military says it controls about 75 percent of Gaza. Most of its population of about 2 million has been displaced multiple times in the past 22 months, following Hamas' devastating October 7, 2023, attacks that claimed the lives of as many as 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians.
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Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the enclave.
Aid groups are now warning of looming famine.
Israel's initial announcement on August 8 of the plan to take over Gaza City, and eventually implement "Israeli security control" of the entire Gaza Strip, drew widespread criticism, including from some Western governments.
Foreign ministers from the U.K., Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Australia released a joint statement rejecting the plan, saying it would "aggravate" the already "catastrophic" situation in Gaza.
What To Know
The plans for the operation dubbed "Gideon's Chariots" was drawn up by the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the military official told a briefing.
"We will be moving into a new phase of combat, a gradual, precise, targeted operation in and around Gaza City, which currently serves as Hamas' main military and governing stronghold," the official said.
"Our mission remains clear...It's very simple and hasn't changed a bit for almost two years, to bring our hostages home, every single one of them and to defeat Hamas, dismantle its governing and military capabilities."
Gaza City is in the north of the 26-mile coastal enclave and has been devastated by Israeli military strikes over the past 22 months.
The military official said 50,000 reservists would be called up for the operation, bringing total troop strength to 120,000.
"We've been able to cut off Hamas' leadership, but there are still terrorists, active terrorists working together, fighting our troops," the official said.
"Since IDF is not in Gaza City and hasn't been in Gaza City for many months, they are trying to regroup and reform in a way that is more organized. And we want to operate against that. We want to operate against their terror infrastructure, specifically [the] tunnel network in Gaza City."
Defense Minister Israel Katz has approved "humanitarian preparations" for the estimated 1 million Palestinian civilians who are set to be displaced from Gaza City to the Gaza Strip's south, Israeli media reported earlier.
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The military official said it was a "top priority" to ensure that Gaza civilians are kept out of harm's way, adding: "We will be providing advance warnings in order to distance the population from active combat areas.
"In the coming weeks, we'll see IDF begin a gradual operation in and around Gaza City. It will be gradual, precise and planned out, and there will be a very large-scale humanitarian plan across it," the official said.
The Security Cabinet's August 8 decision to approve the plan to take over Gaza City and eventually implement "Israeli security control" over the entire enclave, capped months of failed ceasefire talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and Hamas, with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations.
Israel has also faced increased international pressure to reach a ceasefire deal after Hamas released videos showing emaciated Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, which the militant group said was the result of Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to the war-torn territory.
President Donald Trump has said it is up to Israel to decide on its military operations in Gaza.
Netanyahu has also faced domestic opposition, including protests, to increasing the IDF's operations in the Gaza Strip. Behind the scenes, the Israeli military leadership was pushing for an alternative to the plan for a Gaza takeover, Israeli officials have said.
"Those who today call for an end to the war without defeating Hamas are not only hardening Hamas' position and delaying the release of our hostages, they are also ensuring that the horrors of October 7 will be repeated," Netanyahu said, referring to the Hamas-led attack in 2023 that sparked the war.
What People Are Saying
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, August 18, after meeting top military staff: "I spoke with the defense minister and the IDF about our plans regarding Gaza City and the completion of our missions. Hamas is under immense pressure."
The U.N. Human Rights Office said on Tuesday: "The war must end immediately and Israel must allow humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded."
What Happens Next
Netanyahu is likely to face more protests at home against an expanded war and demands for an immediate end to the military campaign in return for the release of all the hostages.
Diplomatic tensions across the Middle East are also set to rise. Arab governments are expected to escalate calls for urgent humanitarian aid in Gaza and political intervention.
The worsening conditions, combined with escalating violence, increase the risk of prolonged conflict and regional destabilization. The international community faces more pressure to respond as the situation on the ground grows evermore precarious.
Update 8/2/2025 4:20 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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