Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering a highly controversial plan, known as the “Generals’ Plan,” which aims to pressure Hamas militants in northern Gaza by cutting off humanitarian aid. The proposal, developed by a group of retired Israeli generals, calls for sealing off the region, trapping Hamas and potentially leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians without access to essential supplies like food, water, medicine, and fuel.
Under the plan, Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, would be given one week to evacuate. After this period, the area would be declared a closed military zone, and anyone remaining would be treated as a combatant. Israeli troops would be authorized to use lethal force, and essential supplies would be cut off in an attempt to force Hamas to surrender.
The plan’s primary architect, Giora Eiland, a former head of Israel’s National Security Council, argues that this strategy is the only way to dismantle Hamas and pressure the group to release remaining Israeli hostages. Eiland suggests that creating unlivable conditions would break Hamas’ control over northern Gaza, where Israel has encircled the area for nearly a year.
Despite the proposal’s detailed nature, the Israeli government has not officially adopted it. Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani denied any direct connection between the recent evacuation orders in northern Gaza and the Generals’ Plan, though reports indicate that certain elements of the strategy may already be in effect.
International observers and human rights groups have raised alarm over the plan, warning that it could lead to widespread suffering among civilians and potentially violate international law, which prohibits the use of food as a weapon of war. The United States has also expressed concerns, opposing any measures that could result in a direct Israeli occupation of Gaza.
The situation in northern Gaza remains tense, with Israeli forces intensifying military operations and no humanitarian aid entering the region for weeks, according to the UN.
