Israeli Military Approves New Gaza Offensive Plan Amid Growing International Criticism

Last Updated:August 13, 2025, 22:22 IST

Netanyahu’s government has yet to announce a clear timeline for the next phase of the ground offensive

Sanaa University students and professors attend a rally to denounce the killing of an Al Jazeera news team in an Israeli strike in Gaza City. (AFP photo)

The Israeli military on Wednesday said it had approved the framework for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, despite mounting international concern and worsening humanitarian conditions in the territory.

The announcement came as Hamas condemned what it described as “aggressive" Israeli ground incursions into Gaza City, accusing Israeli forces of using a scorched-earth approach in heavily populated areas.

A statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, chief of the Israeli armed forces, had “approved the main framework for the IDF’s operational plan in the Gaza Strip." The military did not say when the expanded operation would begin.

The plan follows a recent decision by Israel’s security cabinet calling for the full capture of Gaza City, which has seen intense fighting throughout the nearly two-year war. Thousands of civilians have fled to the city from other parts of Gaza, seeking shelter from earlier attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has yet to announce a clear timeline for the next phase of the ground offensive.

Hamas spokesperson Ismail Al-Thawabta warned that Israeli actions in Gaza City marked “a dangerous escalation aimed at imposing a new reality on the ground by force." He said Israeli troops were targeting civilian areas and causing widespread destruction.

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli air strikes have intensified in recent days, especially in residential areas. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for the agency, said at least 40 people were killed on Wednesday alone.

Footage from Gaza City on Tuesday showed families fleeing bombardments in the Zeitoun and Asqoola neighbourhoods using carts, vans and bicycles packed with belongings.

Meanwhile, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have stalled. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are continuing talks to try and broker a 60-day truce, including a possible hostage exchange and increased humanitarian access.

Hamas said a delegation had arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for “preliminary talks" with Egyptian officials.

Israel’s planned offensive has drawn criticism at home and abroad. UN agencies have warned that famine is spreading in Gaza, where Israel has restricted aid deliveries. The health ministry in Gaza said at least 235 people, including over 100 children, have died of hunger since the war began in October 2023.

The conflict started after a Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, which killed 1,219 people, according to official Israeli figures. Of the 251 hostages taken, 49 are still being held in Gaza — 27 of whom are believed to be dead.

Since then, Israel’s military response has killed at least 61,722 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures, which are considered reliable by the United Nations.

(With inputs from AFP)

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Israel

News world Israeli Military Approves New Gaza Offensive Plan Amid Growing Criticism

Read More