Israel’s Gaza Strategy – Main Points:
• Phase One: Israel intends to occupy Gaza in stages, beginning with Gaza City — but not immediately and not the entire Strip at once.
• Evacuation Plan: A notice will be issued for the evacuation of Gaza City, home to roughly 900,000 to 1 million people, to allow time for the setup of field hospitals and humanitarian camps in central Gaza.
• Timeline: This preparation is expected to take several weeks. No IDF combat operations are planned during this period, partly due to international pressure.
• Targeting Gaza City: The occupation will begin after the evacuation, focusing on Gaza City, viewed as the symbolic and strategic center of the Strip.
• Trump’s Involvement: President Trump is expected to announce an increase in humanitarian aid centers—from 4 to 16 daily—backed by $1 billion in funding from the U.S. and international partners.
• Objective: Deliver aid directly to civilians, bypassing Hamas, particularly as Israeli forces move into Gaza City.
• Hostage Situation: While some hostages may be in Gaza City, most are believed to have been relocated. Hamas has a history of moving captives ahead of IDF advances.
• What Comes Next: A full occupation isn’t planned right away. Officials hope the fall of Gaza City and aid bypassing Hamas will increase pressure on the group to surrender, negotiate, or release hostages.