Israel Approves Military Takeover of Gaza City as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan for the military takeover of Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in the two-year conflict as 200 Palestinians have died from malnutrition and 15,000 children face starvation, according to health officials.
The decision comes as diplomatic efforts have stalled, with Hamas refusing an internationally brokered ceasefire proposal that would have paused fighting for 60 days and facilitated prisoner exchanges, according to Australian Jewish community leaders.
"Unfortunately, the diplomatic route seems to have reached a dead end," said Alex Rayvchin, head of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, in an interview with ABC News Australia. "This is what Israel accepted, but Hamas has refused it. And so, unfortunately, with no diplomatic solution in sight, the only option appears to be military."
The World Health Organization reports that 15,000 children are "on the verge of starvation" in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian conditions as military operations continue.
Prof Omar Dajani from the University of the Pacific, a former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Negotiations Support Unit, expressed concern about the proposed military approach.
"We have seen in the south of Gaza, with the work of what's been called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, what Israel's approach to distributing humanitarian aid looks like," Dajani said. "And it's an approach that's led to the killings of hundreds of Palestinians as they were trying to get food assistance."
Military Opposition and Hostage Concerns
The escalation plan faces internal resistance from Israeli military officials and hostage families, who warn that such action would endanger troops and heighten risks to remaining hostages believed to be held in Gaza City.
"Military reportedly warning that such a plan would endanger troops and would mean a heightened risk to hostages, given it's believed that many of the hostages who are still alive are being held in Gaza City," according to the ABC interview.
Rayvchin acknowledged these concerns but defended the military option as necessary given the current stalemate.
"The best way to bring the hostages home would be through a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution," he said. "But clearly, that's not any longer on the table from Hamas's perspective."
Hamas Weakened but Politically Resilient
Dajani assessed Hamas as being in "an incredibly difficult position, both internally and externally," with its leadership largely eliminated through Israeli operations over the past two years and its military capacity significantly eroded.
"Arab states are calling upon Hamas to disarm, and many Palestinians have lost confidence that it fully represents their interests," he said.
However, he warned against attempts at complete elimination of the organization.
"The fact of the matter is that it's not going to disappear from the scene politically, even if Israel reoccupies, because it represents an important part of the Palestinian national consensus," Dajani said.
Proposed Transition Plan
According to Rayvchin, the Israeli plan does not envision permanent occupation but rather a temporary military phase followed by international oversight.
"The proposal, as I understand it, is to conquer Gaza, to remove the last bastions of Hamas strongholds, to dismantle the infrastructure, hopefully rescue the hostages, and then hand over control of the Strip to an international force made up of Arab nations as a transition towards then-Palestinian self-government," he said.
The plan represents a shift from previous approaches that have seen Israeli forces operating militarily in Gaza since breaking up a ceasefire in March.
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Two-State Solution Debate
The escalation comes as international pressure mounts for a two-state solution, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moving toward recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Rayvchin expressed skepticism about imposed recognition, arguing that genuine peace requires mutual recognition between parties.
"Imposing a two-state solution, recognizing a Palestinian state which doesn't exist, in fact, doesn't get us any closer to that," he said. "We need to see a genuine peace process, which begins, of course, with the removal of Hamas."
He emphasized that the Palestinian Authority "has still never recognized the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish homeland," calling this "the starting point" for any negotiations.
Humanitarian Law Obligations
Under international humanitarian law, an occupying force bears responsibility for providing law and order, humanitarian relief, food, shelter and medicine to the occupied population.
Dajani questioned Israel's capacity to fulfill these obligations based on recent experience.
"What I think is unfamiliar territory for them and for Palestinians is what it will be like for Israeli soldiers to not only have the responsibility to provide security to Israel, but also to have the responsibility that comes under humanitarian law with occupation," he said.
"We've seen very little from the last two years and indeed the last 20 that would give us confidence that that would work," Dajani added.
Regional and Domestic Implications
The military escalation raises concerns about broader regional stability and domestic tensions in countries with significant Jewish and Palestinian diaspora populations.
Rayvchin expressed worry about potential impacts on Australian social cohesion, citing nearly two years of tensions.
"We've seen the targeting of Jewish institutions, of galleries, of restaurants, of Jewish families and individuals," he said. "And so we are concerned that the most extreme outgrowths of the anti-Israel movement will be invigorated by this."
Military Challenges Ahead
Israeli forces face significant tactical challenges in urban warfare, with Rayvchin acknowledging the dangers troops will encounter.
"They're going to have to brace themselves for horrible fighting and tunnels and booby-trapped alleys and buildings," he said. "And there will no doubt be more military losses."
The Israeli military's practice of forecasting strike locations to protect civilian life in Gaza creates additional risks for soldiers, according to military analysts.
Ongoing Stalemate
Both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with little indication of renewed diplomatic momentum despite international pressure for de-escalation.
"The status quo, where you have this long grinding war in which people are suffering immensely and the hostages are at the point of starvation, this can't be allowed to continue either," Rayvchin said.
The proposed military operation represents Israel's attempt to break the current deadlock through force, despite warnings about civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis that has already claimed hundreds of lives from malnutrition alone.
As the situation develops, international observers watch for signs of whether the military approach can succeed where diplomacy has failed, or whether it will deepen the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza's 2.3 million residents.
The escalation underscores the complexity of the conflict, where military victories have yet to translate into sustainable political solutions, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians trapped in cycles of violence that have defined the region for decades.
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