Preparations underway: Gaza occupation plan slowed by recruitment shortfall and tunnel threats
The Israeli army has redeployed its units across multiple fronts, moving most of them south in preparation for the first phase of a plan to occupy the Gaza Strip.
The move comes alongside the call-up of 450,000 soldiers, a decision that has sparked significant anger and opposition among reservists. Military sources acknowledge difficulties in mobilizing more than 60% of reserve brigade members.
The army has also issued warnings about the risks of implementing the political leadership's decision, noting that Israel's focus remains on the West Bank, Iran, the Houthis, Hezbollah, and the infrastructure of hostile groups in Syria and Jordan.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continuing to justify the occupation plan, insisted that eliminating Hamas is essential to Israel's security and declared that his government is determined to reshape the Middle East, including developments in Syria, Iran, and Lebanon.
Military officials admitted that the army has not trained for underground operations, a major obstacle to occupying Gaza, due to concerns for the safety of Israeli hostages.
A military report said Hamas is expanding a plan to hinder Israeli operations by strengthening what it calls "defensive walls" for the hostages underground and dispersing them across multiple tunnel locations in areas where the army is expected to operate. This strategy has fueled protests led by captives' families, who accuse Netanyahu and his ministers of effectively sentencing their loved ones to death.
Facing a recruitment crisis, the Israeli army is expected to implement the occupation plan slowly and in phases—not only to give mediators time to reach a deal to end the war, but also to account for the possibility of failing to mobilize units fully and to ensure readiness for battles expected to be no less intense than those seen in Gaza over the past 22 months of conflict.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Mayadeen
41 minutes ago
- Al Mayadeen
Sa'ar pushes to shut French consulate over Palestine statehood plan
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar is advocating for the closure of France's consulate in occupied al-Quds, as confirmed by an Israeli diplomat speaking to The Times of Israel, in response to French President Emmanuel Macron's intention to recognize a Palestinian state. Sa'ar raised the issue during Sunday's cabinet meeting, with a decision anticipated in the near future, according to a report by Israel Hayom. In July, Macron stated that France would officially recognize a Palestinian state during an upcoming UN session in September, prompting a series of similar declarations from other major Western nations. On July 30, France and 14 other nations endorsed a declaration signaling a possible surge in future recognitions of a Palestinian state. The document, referred to as the New York Call and released by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, states that the signatories have either already recognized Palestine or are actively weighing such a move. The New York Call was introduced during a United Nations conference focused on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian conflict, jointly led by Saudi Arabia and France, while reiterating international backing for a "two-state solution" as the genocide in Gaza continues. The declaration demands urgent coordinated efforts to halt the war in Gaza and establish a fair and sustainable peace, while emphasizing the necessity of international assurances to enforce the "two-state solution," which includes reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under the governance of the Palestinian Authority. The declaration also backs the Palestinian Authority's principle of "One State, One Government, One Law, One Gun," while detailing a proposed disarmament and reintegration framework to be implemented after a ceasefire is achieved.
Al Mayadeen
2 hours ago
- Al Mayadeen
Egypt demands clarification over Netanyahu's 'Greater Israel' vision
Egypt's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsing the so-called 'Greater Israel' vision. The ministry described the remarks as a rejection of the "peace process" and demanded formal clarifications from Tel Aviv. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Cairo's commitment to regional peace and security, warning that Netanyahu's statements fuel instability and contradict international efforts to resolve the region's ongoing conflicts. Netanyahu's comments were made during an August 12 interview with Israeli broadcaster i24News, where he expressed strong support for a territorial vision of 'Greater Israel'. Wanted war criminal Israeli PM Netanyahu says he feels 'very' connected to the vision of a 'Greater Israel' — a plan for Israel's conquest of the Middle East that envisions the apartheid state expanding into occupied Palestinian territories as well as parts of Egypt, Jordan,… Knesset member Sharon Gal presented him with an amulet depicting a map of "the Promised Land," which includes not only occupied Palestinian territories, but also parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. Netanyahu said he felt "very much" connected to this map, calling his mission "historic and spiritual". This is not the first time Netanyahu has used maps to promote expansionist narratives. In 2023 and 2024, he displayed controversial maps at the UN General Assembly excluding any Palestinian state, while portraying extended Israeli borders. Critics have said these presentations erase the two-state solution and elevate a vision of regional a key mediator in ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, views Netanyahu's remarks as harmful to ongoing diplomatic efforts. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has been actively engaged in talks alongside Qatar and the US to reach a truce and facilitate prisoner exchanges, and Cairo warned that expansionist rhetoric during such negotiations is detrimental to regional peace. The Foreign Ministry reiterated that peace can only be achieved by ending the war on Gaza and returning to negotiations, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Al-Quds as its capital. Netanyahu's expansionist goals sparked outrage across West Asia. Jordan condemned Netanyahu's remarks as a "dangerous provocative escalation," calling them a violation of sovereignty and international law, while Saudi Arabia rejected "expansionist projects" by the Israeli occupation, and Qatar said the statements reflect "arrogance" and inflame regional tensions. #Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation in the strongest terms possible of the statements made by the Prime Minister of the Israeli occupation government regarding the so-called 'Vision of Greater Israel,' and expresses its outright… addition, the Arab League described Netanyahu's words as a threat to Arab national security and a breach of UN principles. It warned that such statements reinforce a colonial mindset and undermine peace initiatives. The idea of "Greater Israel" is rooted in early revisionist Zionism, championed by Ze'ev Jabotinsky, a forefather of Netanyahu's Likud party. It envisions an Israeli entity extending from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has echoed similar ideas, once displaying a map in Paris that included Jordan within "Israel". He has referred to a future where "Jerusalem expands to Damascus," putting biblical prophecy at the forefront of Israeli politics.
Ya Libnan
2 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
U.S. envoy: Israel must 'comply' after Lebanon's 'first step' to disarm Hezbollah
U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack said Monday that it is now Israel's turn to comply with the cease-fire agreement reached last November to end the war with Hezbollah. File Pool photo by Anthony Behar/UPI BEIRUT, Lebanon – U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack said Monday that it is now Israel's turn to comply with the cease-fire agreement reached last November to end the war with Hezbollah , now that Lebanon has taken 'the first step' toward disarming the Iran-backed militant group. Barrack, who met with Lebanon's top officials in Beirut, hailed the cabinet for endorsing earlier this month the objectives of a U.S.-proposed plan to disarm Hezbollah and for tasking the Army with preparing a plan to enforce a state monopoly on weapons by the end of the year. 'This is a Lebanese decision that requires Israel's cooperation,' he said after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace. He added, 'There's always a step-by-step approach, but I think the Lebanese government has done their part; they've taken the first step… Now what we need is Israel to comply with that equal handshake.' Asked whether Israel is then expected to stop its violations and pullout from occupied parts of south Lebanon, Barrack said this was 'the next step,' noting the need for Israel's 'participation' and for an economic plan 'for prosperity, restoration and renovation of everybody.' 'You can't just take something and not give anything,' he said. Israel refused to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon in accordance with the U.S.- and French-brokered cease-fire agreement of Nov. 27, retaining five strategic positions and continuing to strike suspected Hezbollah sites, resulting in the deaths of additional operatives and civilians. Despite the Lebanese Army taking control of most Hezbollah positions and facilities, pushing the group away from the Israeli border, and preventing any military presence south of the Litani River, Israel continued to insist on Hezbollah's complete disarmament. Hezbollah, significantly weakened during the 14-month war and reportedly having lost the bulk of its military capabilities, refrained from retaliating against Israel's continued attacks but refused to yield to pressure to fully disarm, insisting it would not do so as long as Israel violates the cease-fire accord. Barrack clarified that there has been 'no American proposal to Israel and they have not negated anything,' explaining that Washington has been discussing first with Lebanon to know its position and was in the process of holding the same discussions with Israel now. He tried to assure Lebanon's Shiite community, saying Hezbollah was part of the Shiite population who 'have to see what is in store for them; what's the option and what's a better alternative than the alternative they have.' He expressed optimism 'to see progress on all sides' in the next few weeks, saying it would mean 'a better life for the people' and 'at least the beginning of a roadway to a different kind of dialogue' in the region. Lebanon's decision to set a timeline for Hezbollah disarmament was mainly motivated by the risk of another devastating war with Israel and of losing well-needed funds to rebuild its war-devastated regions. President Aoun told Barrack that 'the other parties' would need to adhere 'to the contents' of the plan agreed upon with Washington; secure greater support for the Lebanese Army and accelerate the internationally backed efforts to launch the reconstruction process in the war-ravaged areas. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who also met the U.S. envoy, emphasized the need for the U.S. to assume its responsibility in pressuring Israel to halt its hostile actions, withdraw from the five occupied points, and release Lebanese detainees captured during the war. Salam stressed the importance of renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon at the end of this month, highlighting its role in reinforcing stability and assisting the Lebanese Army in extending state authority in the south. He, moreover, called for a clear international commitment to convening a conference to support reconstruction and economic recovery in Lebanon, which the World Bank has estimated at $11 billion, while Lebanese officials put it at more than $14 billion. House Speaker Nabih Berri , Hezbollah's main ally who negotiated the November 2024 cease-fire accord on its behalf, asked Barrack about Israel's commitment to the agreement and withdrawal from south Lebanon, saying: 'This is the gateway to stability in Lebanon and an opportunity to begin the reconstruction process in preparation for the return of residents to their towns.' The Hezbollah-Israel war, which killed and wounded more than 21,500 people, displaced over 1.2 million people, damaged or destroyed nearly 64,000 buildings and disrupted education for hundreds of thousands of students, according to a U.N. report. (UPI)
