According to reports, Israeli war minister Yisrael Katz and army chief Herzi Halevi signed off on the occupation scheme during a meeting in Tel Aviv that also involved senior military and intelligence officials, including the heads of operations, military intelligence, and the Shin Bet.
Under the plan, the military has accelerated the call-up of 60,000 reservists and extended the service of 20,000 more by 40 days. Army commanders have been directed to reinforce troops in the northern Gaza Strip as preparations for further offensives intensify.
The decision follows the Netanyahu cabinet’s August 8 approval of a step-by-step reoccupation strategy starting with Gaza City, aimed at tightening the blockade and forcing civilians to flee south.
Since August 11, the Israeli regime's army has launched heavy assaults on Gaza City’s al-Zeitoun neighborhood, using artillery shelling and explosive-equipped robots to drive thousands of residents into displacement.
These moves come despite ongoing indirect talks for a temporary ceasefire, with Hamas reportedly accepting a proposal mediated by international parties.
Israel’s genocidal campaign, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed 62,064 Palestinians and wounded 156,573 others, the majority women and children. At least 10,000 remain missing, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced, underscoring the devastating toll of the war.