Israeli Military Approves Framework for New Gaza Offensive

The Israeli military announced Wednesday that it has endorsed the “framework” for a new operation in the Gaza Strip, following the security cabinet’s recent directive to seize Gaza City.

A statement from the army said Armed Forces Chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir had approved the core elements of the operational plan. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not disclosed when troops will advance into the city, which has become a refuge for thousands fleeing earlier assaults.

According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, Israeli air strikes on Gaza City have escalated in recent days, heavily targeting residential areas in Zeitoun and Sabra, potentially including high-rise buildings.

The announcement came shortly after Hamas confirmed that a senior delegation had arrived in Cairo for preliminary truce discussions with Egyptian officials.

Plans to widen the conflict—now in its 23rd month—have drawn criticism both internationally and within Israel. UN-backed experts warn of a growing famine in Gaza, where Israel has sharply restricted humanitarian aid.

The war began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally from official sources. Since then, at least 61,599 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, based on figures from Gaza’s health ministry, which the United Nations deems credible.