Israeli army chief approves new military plans for resuming war on Gaza
Israel's newly appointed armed forces chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, (C) visits the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem on March 5, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir approved new military plans for resuming the war on the Gaza Strip if ceasefire negotiations collapse, Israeli media said on Monday.
The plans were ratified by Zamir during his visit to the army’s Southern Command on Thursday, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported.
“Zamir instructed the commander of the Southern Command to make adjustments to ensure that the upcoming ground operation will be more efficient than the previous one,” KAN said.
The new plans include intensifying airstrikes, expanding ground operations, and evacuating Palestinians from northern Gaza, in addition to the call-up of hundreds of thousands of reserve soldiers, the broadcaster said.
Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza on Sunday, in the latest move to tighten a stifling blockade on the enclave despite a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
Last week, Israel stopped humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, prompting warnings from local and human rights groups of a return to widespread hunger for the Palestinian population.
The first six-week phase of the ceasefire deal ended in early March without Israel agreeing to move to the second phase or halt the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to extend the first phase of the prisoner exchange to secure the release of more Israeli captives without fulfilling military or humanitarian obligations outlined in the agreement, appeasing hardliners in his government.
Palestinian group Hamas, however, rejects this approach and insists that Israel abide by the ceasefire terms, urging mediators to push for immediate negotiations on the second phase, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war.
The ceasefire deal has been in place since January, pausing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 48,500 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
