Israel Plans to Completely Occupy Gaza

The Israeli government has approved a plan for the complete occupation of Gaza and an indefinite military presence there, reports Associated Press, citing two Israeli officials. This decision was made after the country's authorities began to mobilize tens of thousands of reservists en masse.

According to official statements, the plan aims to "support the goals of the war," specifically to eliminate Hamas and free kidnapped Israelis. This involves a massive advance of Israeli armed forces in the southern region of Gaza, which could further exacerbate the already severe humanitarian crisis. Currently, about 50 percent of Gaza is under control.

As part of the program, it is proposed to obstruct the distribution of humanitarian aid by Hamas, as officials claim it is done to maintain control over the area. For this reason, Israel has offered the UN a special mechanism through which aid should be distributed via private custodial companies. However, the UN has rejected participation in this program, stating that it contradicts humanitarian principles.