6 Divisions Will Maneuver for 5 Months to Conquer Gaza
The cabinet will discuss expanding the maneuver in Gaza to conquer Gaza and Deir al-Balah where the hostages are located. This will require tens of thousands of reservist fighters who will be drafted for hundreds of days of reserve duty.
Israel at war, day 669. After the Prime Minister's announcement about the directive to conquer Gaza city and the central camps - places where the IDF did not operate - now the order is beginning to take on meaning.
Tomorrow the political-security cabinet will convene to discuss the details of the maneuver, but from details that have been revealed, it appears this involves deploying tens of thousands of soldiers for a period of several months.
According to the plan, between four to six IDF divisions will need to operate in the Gaza Strip, for a period of 5 months.
The general details of the operation are moving the Palestinians currently in Gaza city south to the Rafah area that has been evacuated, where food distribution sites will also be located. From there, Palestinians will be able to leave the Strip to anywhere in the world that agrees to accept them.
Simultaneously, fighters will maneuver in Gaza city and complete the destruction of houses as was done in the Beit Hanoun and Rafah areas, and for the first time since the beginning of the war, also entry into Deir al-Balah and the central camps - areas where the IDF has not operated until today due to concern about the presence of hostages in the area.
The costs of the operation are additional mobilization of the worn-out reserves system, for dozens more days of reserve duty, in addition to concern for the lives of hostages located in areas where the IDF will maneuver.
Right-wing ministers in the government are pushing for ground activity while Minister Sa'ar opposes it, as does observer Deri whose party left the government but Netanyahu continues to invite him to cabinet discussions. Sa'ar and Deri returned from abroad in light of the developments.
According to Channel 12 reporter Amit Segal, the plan includes the expansion of Gaza Humanitarian Fund food distribution points from 4 to 16, the preparation of civilian infrastructures in the central Gaza Strip for civilians (hospitals, tents), and time for civilians to fully evacuate from Gaza City, which will then be fully occupied once this period ends.