Zamir Approves Plans to Occupy Gaza City

SadaNews - The Israeli Broadcasting Authority announced that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir approved plans to occupy Gaza City this evening, at a time when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sticking to his conditions for ending the war. For its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) considered this decision a new wave of extermination and displacement.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority stated that the Israeli army estimates indicate that the occupation of Gaza City will take four months.

The authority mentioned that the U.S. administration requested to review the plans for the occupation of Gaza City.

Zamir had said earlier today, Sunday, that he had approved the next phase of the war, emphasizing that the army would move to the next phase of the "Gideon's Chariots" operation in the Gaza Strip.

Zamir pointed out during his tour of the devastated Palestinian territory that the current battle is unlimited and is part of a long-term plan, emphasizing that the army has a "moral duty" to return the prisoners held in Gaza.

Last week, the Israeli security cabinet (the cabinet) approved plans to control Gaza City and the refugee camps amidst a devastating war and an ongoing siege that has lasted for 22 months.

On that day, the Prime Minister considered this plan as the "best way to end the war," challenging the increasing calls for a ceasefire, but without addressing the "Gideon's Chariots" operation.

According to Zamir, the "Gideon's Chariots" operation has achieved its objectives, and that "Hamas no longer has the capabilities it had before this operation, and we have inflicted severe damage on it."

He added - according to a statement from the army - that "the current battle is not a localized (temporary) event, but another episode in a planned long-term strategy, within a multi-front vision targeting all components of the axis, led by Iran."

The statement also indicated that the army would operate according to a "smart, balanced and responsible strategy... and will deploy all its capabilities on land, in the air, and at sea to deliver strong strikes against Hamas."

The occupation army continues its military operation in the Zeitoun neighborhood (southeast of Gaza City) for the seventh consecutive day, amidst airstrikes and artillery shelling targeting various areas of this neighborhood.

The Israeli forces -who are advancing in the eastern and southern axes of the neighborhood- are conducting demolition and destruction operations of what remains of homes and civilian facilities in the beleaguered Zeitoun neighborhood.

For its part, the Gaza Civil Defense reported that the occupation forces have destroyed more than 400 homes and residential buildings in the Zeitoun neighborhood in recent days.