Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has unleashed a full-scale military escalation in Gaza, vowing to “enter with full force” while simultaneously advancing a controversial plan to relocate Palestinians that critics call ethnic cleansing masked as a humanitarian initiative.
Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu announced Israel will enter Gaza “with full force” to destroy Hamas, continuing operations despite international criticism of civilian casualties exceeding 52,000.
- Israel is actively promoting a “voluntary transfer programme” for Palestinians to leave Gaza, with Netanyahu seeking countries willing to accept displaced Gazans.
- The US administration is establishing a new aid distribution system run by private contractors rather than through traditional UN channels, raising concerns about aid weaponization.
- Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced at least once, with severe food shortages causing prices to skyrocket to $415 for a 25kg bag of flour.
- The conflict follows Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,218 Israelis, with Israel’s response creating what the UN describes as a humanitarian catastrophe.
Netanyahu’s Military Escalation Plans
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has doubled down on Israel’s offensive in Gaza, declaring that military operations will intensify despite mounting international criticism. Speaking from his office this week, Netanyahu made his intentions unambiguously clear, outlining a strategy that shows no signs of compromise. The operation, which resumed full force on March 18 following the breakdown of a January ceasefire, is being characterized by Israeli officials as necessary to eliminate Hamas, though humanitarian organizations argue the toll on civilians has become catastrophic.
“In the very coming days, we are going in with full force to complete the operation. Completing the operation means defeating Hamas. It means destroying Hamas,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli government has approved plans to expand its Gaza operations significantly, with discussions of maintaining a long-term military presence in the territory. This escalation comes as the death toll in Gaza has reached at least 52,908, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, with the vast majority being civilians. While Israel defends its actions as necessary responses to the October 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,218 Israelis and led to 251 abductions, the scale of destruction has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and governments worldwide.
The war in Gaza is entering a new & messy phase, which is attrition warfare. Both Hamas and Israel are unable to achieve outright victory; instead, they are attempting to wear each other out by grinding the war on, with one side using overwhelming firepower coupled with advanced…
— Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib (@afalkhatib) May 18, 2024
Controversial “Voluntary Transfer” Programme
In what many observers view as one of the most controversial aspects of Israel’s Gaza strategy, Netanyahu has openly advocated for what his government terms a “voluntary transfer programme” for Palestinians to leave Gaza permanently. This proposal, which critics describe as thinly veiled forced displacement, envisions relocating significant portions of Gaza’s population to countries like Egypt, Jordan, or other nations willing to accept them. The plan has already been forcefully rejected by Egypt, Jordan, other Arab allies, and Palestinians themselves, who see it as an attempt to achieve through war what could not be achieved through diplomacy.
“We’ve set up an administration that will allow them (Gaza residents) to leave but… we need countries willing to take them in. That’s what we’re working on right now,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has stunningly suggested that over 50% of Gazans might choose to leave if given the option, though humanitarian experts point out that people fleeing active war zones cannot make truly voluntary choices. The displacement crisis has already reached staggering proportions, with nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents having been displaced at least once during the conflict. Many have been forced to move multiple times as Israeli operations shift from one area to another, creating what the UN describes as one of the most severe displacement crises in recent history.
US Bypasses UN with New Aid Distribution System
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the Trump administration has announced plans to establish a new system to provide aid to Palestinians through private contractors rather than traditional UN channels. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that these “distribution centers” would be protected by security contractors to deliver aid while preventing Hamas from obtaining supplies. This marks a significant shift in how humanitarian assistance is delivered in conflict zones, with the US taking a more direct approach that bypasses established international humanitarian frameworks.
“The Israelis are going to be involved in providing necessary security because this is a war zone. But they will not be involved in the distribution of the food, or even the bringing of food into Gaza,” said US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
The newly registered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been tasked with managing aid distribution, with the ambitious goal of eventually reaching all Gazans. However, UN agencies have expressed serious concerns about this approach, stating it could “weaponize” aid by placing it under military protection rather than maintaining humanitarian neutrality. Many international aid organizations have refused to cooperate with the plan, arguing it violates core humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality, and potentially puts aid workers at greater risk by associating them with military operations.
Catastrophic Humanitarian Conditions
The ongoing blockade has created catastrophic conditions for Gaza’s civilian population, with severe shortages of food, fuel, medical supplies, and other essentials. Basic foodstuffs have become prohibitively expensive, with a 25kg bag of flour now costing an astounding $415 in Gaza City – completely out of reach for the vast majority of residents who have lost livelihoods, homes, and access to banking systems. The UN has repeatedly warned that without an end to the blockade and significant increases in aid delivery, large portions of Gaza’s population face imminent famine.
“to do everything possible to accelerate that and to as expeditiously as possible get humanitarian aid into the people,” said US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Israeli media reports indicate that under the new aid distribution system, assistance will be provided to security-screened representatives from each Gazan family, raising questions about who will qualify and how truly independent this screening process will be. Critics argue that without addressing the root causes of the crisis – namely the blockade and ongoing military operations – no aid distribution mechanism can adequately address the scale of humanitarian need. Even with the new system in place, aid experts warn that Gaza stands on the precipice of a humanitarian catastrophe unseen in recent decades.
