The IDF's Warning for "the Day After": Why Military Rule in Gaza is Coming
As the IDF prepares for a full incursion into Gaza City, a new map reveals the military now controls 40% of the area, with the IDF spokesperson stating that military rule is likely if no alternative solution for governance is found.
An updated map released today by Israeli journalist Amit Segal shows the extent of the IDF’s military control in the Gaza Strip, highlighting territory now fully under the military's command and areas of significant destruction. The map's publication coincided with a statement from IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Efi Defrin, who announced that the IDF now controls 40% of Gaza City as part of its ongoing campaign, with operations expected to intensify in the coming days.
The IDF's advances are part of a new phase of the war, as the military prepares for a full-scale incursion into the city. According to Defrin, the military is already operating in the Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods on the city's outskirts. He also addressed the ongoing disagreements between the military and political leadership, stating that while the IDF Chief of Staff supports the plan to conquer Gaza City, he has made it clear that "if there is no other solution for 'the day after,' there will be military rule."
Defrin also provided an update on the war against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, a week after a targeted strike on their leadership in the capital, Sana'a. The strike eliminated Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and ten other Houthi officials. While the fates of the Houthi chief of staff and defense minister remain unknown, Defrin linked their elimination to the recent killing of Hamas's "Abu Obeida," stating that "none of the leaders of terror organizations and terrorists in the Middle East will be safe." Despite the strike, the Houthis have continued to launch attacks on Israel, though two recent drone attacks were intercepted without triggering sirens.
As the IDF readies its forces for the final incursion, which is expected to begin within the next two weeks, the military is calling on residents to evacuate the city and move south. The military has also started setting up new food distribution centers and medical aid stations in the southern parts of the Strip to assist the displaced population. A senior military official noted that the operation in Gaza City would be "powerful but not fast," adding, "the only concern is that this does not become a war of choice in the eyes of the soldiers and the public instead of a war of no choice."