As the pressure to bring Hamas to its knees and liberate the hostages from the October 7 attacks grows, Benjamin Netanyahu's government is considering a new strategy in Gaza, reports said. If implemented, this plan could further deteriorate the condition of civilians in Gaza as it includes "starving" them "until surrender".
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The new strategy proposed by a group of retired Israeli senior officers, reported the BBC. It is being called the "Generals’ Plan" as the group is led by Major-General (ret) Giora Eiland, a former national security adviser. In a nutshell, 'Generals’ Plan' wants Israel to put pressure on the entire population of northern Gaza sans hesitation until Hamas fully surrenders.
Understanding the horrors of 'Generals’ Plan'
The British media claimed that Major-General (ret) Giora Eiland wanted Tel Aviv to give the 400,000+ civilians of northern Gaza an ultimatum to leave for the southern parts. Ten days should be given to the civilians who remain in northern Gaza amidst the heavy bombardment and airstrikes. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) should ready a corridor for the civilians to cross over to the southern side of Gaza. Once the 10-day window closes, Eiland reportedly wants the entire northern Gaza to be treated as a military zone. The exits should be sealed after the period and no movement should be allowed with anyone left behind "treated as an enemy combatant."
As per the Plan, whoever stays back after the allotted timeframe, should be denied water and other necessities. With little to no supplies allowed to a designated military zone, to quote Eiland's counsel, "And all the Hamas people will still, though, whether some of them are fighters, some of them are civilians… will have two choices either to surrender or to starve."
If the plan is perfectly executed, Hamas fighters will have no place to move the hostages and soon give up with no supplies left to sustain themselves, the think tanks believe.
According to the BBC, there was no clear indication whether the IDF has given the 'Generals' Plan' a go-ahead in part or in full.
But is southern Gaza safe?
No. While the northern parts of Gaza have become a living hell, the southern areas, which the IDF calls "safe corridors" are not very different. Even without the 'Generals’ Plan' implemented all main crossings into northern Gaza have been closed for aid movements since 1 October according to the UN World Food Programme. Israeli airstrikes have made operating mobile kitchens impossible even in the south, leaving thousands of families to starve.