As the dust refuses to settle in Gaza, Israel’s security cabinet has now greenlit what may be its boldest and most controversial move, a plan to expand military operations with the express aim of capturing and holding territory inside the Strip. The move, spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and backed unanimously by his cabinet, is being described as a “forceful operation” to destroy Hamas and rescue the remaining hostages still in captivity. But as the age-old adage goes, “He who rides the tiger cannot dismount easily.”
Netanyahu's language was both firm and foreboding. Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, he said, “will be moved, to protect.” But he never offered any clear vision for how this protection is going to work in practice, especially when memories of previous displacement are still haunting those who had once believed in the illusion of “safe zones.”
The plan, authored by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, involves not just expanding the buffer zone but effectively holding captured Gaza territory, marking a significant shift from previous hit-and-withdraw tactics. As Zamir made clear, “they will not enter and come out.” In other words, “possession is nine-tenths of the law,” and Israel may be aiming to stay.
But holding ground in Gaza is not just about geography. It’s a test of political will, international patience, and humanitarian tolerance.
Despite the aggressive tone, the Israeli government did nod, however reluctantly, toward humanitarian optics. The cabinet approved a plan in principle to allow aid delivery via private companies. However, this bypasses the United Nations and other traditional agencies, which immediately slam the approach as a violation of basic humanitarian principles. The Humanitarian Country Team went so far as to say the strategy appeared designed to use humanitarian aid as a tool of military pressure, “a dangerous precedent,” they warned.
Meanwhile, Hamas remains defiant. A spokesman for the group dismissed the new campaign as “pressure and blackmail,” while reaffirming their terms: a full ceasefire, complete withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction, and prisoner exchange. It's an offer Israel sees as unacceptable, at least for now. And yet, critics of the Netanyahu government argue that military escalation has thus far failed to bring the remaining 59 hostages home. “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater,” say families of the captives, who accuse the government of prioritising land over lives.
Indeed, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum called the new plan a betrayal, stating it went “against the will of over 70% of the people” in Israel. If public sentiment is truly swaying, Netanyahu may be playing with fire. As another saying warns: “You can’t unscramble an egg.”
Complicating matters further is international diplomacy. While U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the region between May 13–16, Israeli officials say the ground operation will be paused until after his trip, leaving a narrow “window of opportunity” for a negotiated deal. That’s a strategic delay, but also one that raises questions. Is this a genuine attempt at diplomacy, or just buying time for more boots on the ground?
On the ground in Gaza, the story is even grimmer. Many Palestinians in northern Gaza, who were previously displaced to the south under Israeli warnings, now say they will not move again. “We will not leave,” said 76-year-old Ahmed Shehata. “Even if Israel brings down the tents over our heads.” That kind of resolve speaks volumes. As they say, “a man’s home is his castle even if it’s in ruins.”
The proposed creation of a “sterile area” in Rafah, where humanitarian aid could be inspected and distributed, is another flashpoint. Aid agencies argue this would drive civilians into militarised zones, increasing danger rather than delivering relief. The UN says the blockade has already pushed Gaza into the abyss, warehouses empty, bakeries closed, hospitals without supplies. Hunger and malnutrition loom like storm clouds.
Israel, however, insists it is complying with international law and says there is no shortage of aid, though facts on the ground tell a different story. Since March 2, humanitarian deliveries have been effectively cut off. As it stands, Gaza is bleeding, literally and figuratively.
Let’s not forget how we got here. This war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack, which left 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage, an atrocity that demanded a response. Since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 52,000 people in Gaza have died. And now, with no clear exit strategy, Israel’s latest move seems less like a chapter nearing its end and more like a fuse relit.
It’s hard not to recall the old wisdom: “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” In this battle of titans, ideological, military, and political, the ordinary people of Gaza and Israel alike remain caught in the crosshairs.
And as history shows, occupying territory is one thing, holding onto peace is quite another.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0