Israel issues forced displacement orders as Netanyahu pushes for wider Gaza offensive

The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered residents of parts of Gaza City's Zaytoun neighbourhood to evacuate southward toward Al-Mawasi, as Tel Aviv signalled a possible expansion of military operations westward and into the remaining parts of the besieged and battered territory.

The Israeli army said in a statement that it was "broadening its operations westward" and instructed civilians, most of whom had lost their homes and were previously displaced, to "evacuate".

Netanyahu, who chaired a high-level security meeting on Tuesday, has insisted on pressing forward, saying Israel must "complete the defeat of Hamas" to free remaining captives.

According to Israeli broadcaster Kan, several ministers who spoke with Netanyahu said he appeared "determined to expand the fighting" into areas where captives "may" be held.

Privately, however, senior security officials have expressed deep concern. Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly warned Netanyahu during the three-hour meeting that occupying the rest of Gaza could backfire, trapping Israeli forces in a protracted campaign, overstretching the army, and endangering the roughly 50 captives still believed to be held inside the enclave.

Netanyahu accused the military of failing to secure captives' release through its current strategy. A fourth source told reporters that the prime minister believes escalating the offensive would apply pressure on Hamas to return the captives.

While some Israeli media, including Maariv, reported that a decision for full re-occupation has already been made, Zamir's opposition and the lack of a clear post-war plan have fuelled debate.

"The army remains stuck," said retired general Giora Eiland, writing in Walla. "And Netanyahu cannot psychologically backtrack from promises of total victory."

Defence Minister Israel Katz defended Zamir's right to object, but said on Wednesday that the army was obligated to carry out the government's decisions.

Humanitarian fallout

The order to evacuate parts of Zaytoun has sparked panic among civilians already displaced multiple times.

"Where will we go?" asked Tamer Al-Burai, a resident of central Gaza, speaking to Reuters. "Should people jump into the sea or wait to die under the rubble of their houses?"

Much of Gaza has been flattened by nearly two years of bombardment. According to Gaza's health ministry, over 61,000 people, mostly children, women and elderly, have been killed since October 2023.

Nearly 200 people, half of them children, have died from starvation. On Wednesday, more than 20 people were killed when a truck reportedly carrying food overturned and was swarmed by desperate civilians.

Aid agencies and the United Nations have warned that any further expansion of military operations risks pushing Gaza’s already starving population deeper into catastrophe.

"There is no military solution to the Gaza conflict," Miroslav Jenča, a UN Assistant Secretary-General, told the Security Council, warning of "catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians".

Pressure from abroad and within

International pressure continues to mount on Israel to agree to a ceasefire. The latest truce talks in Qatar collapsed last month, with Hamas insisting that any deal must lead to a permanent end to the war. Israel, meanwhile, has accused the group of stalling and insists it must be defeated militarily.

In Washington, former US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that it was up to Israel whether or not to occupy all of Gaza, downplaying concerns about Netanyahu’s intentions. "I don’t know what the proposal is," Trump said. "I know we're there to feed people."

Back in Israel, public support for the war has shown signs of waning. Polls indicate most Israelis now back a diplomatic deal that would secure the captives' release and bring an end to the war.

Still, Netanyahu, who leads Israel’s most right-wing government in history, remains under pressure from far-right allies who have threatened to leave the coalition if the war ends without Hamas's "complete defeat".

Indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes continued across Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least 135 people in the last 24 hours alone, according to Gaza health authorities.