Islam Times - Report: Israeli Army Preparing for Years-Long Presence in Gaza

Islam Times - The Israeli Army is establishing long-term presence in the Gaza Strip, senior military officials told Haaretz daily.

According to the Israeli newspaper, which quoted officers and senior commanders in the military, the army is gearing up to remain in the besieged Palestinian enclave at least until the end of 2025.

The paper reported that the Israeli Army’s accelerated bids to expose large areas in the besieged enclave - or as Haaretz put it, “destroying existing buildings and infrastructure in such a way that dangers to the forces cannot hide in them, but no one can live in them either” - show intent to stay in the territory for a considerable period.

In addition, the area has seen the construction of new roads and long-term military facilities.

“These are not posts that are built for a month or two,” a commander stated.

Soldiers told Haaretz they have been comfortable enough staying in reinforced containers with electricity, air conditioning and other benefits while positioned in the largely emptied Northern parts of Gaza.

They say they have turned Northern Gaza into a sort of military enclave, having forcibly displaced most of its civilian population.

Senior Israeli political and defence officials deny carrying out the “Generals’ Plan”, a siege strategy to forcefully empty Northern Gaza by labelling all remaining civilians as military targets and blocking the delivery of food and medical supplies.

However, senior defence sources told Haaretz that what is being presented to the Israeli public is “not necessarily what is actually happening”.
According to them, the Israeli Army is required to empty villages and cities of their residents.

The newspaper adds that up to 20,000 people remain in the area that once had over 500,000.

“The way it looks on the ground, the [military] won't leave Gaza before 2026,” an officer said, adding, “When you see the roads being paved here, it's clear that this isn't intended for the ground manoeuvres or for raids by the troops into various places."

“These roads lead, among other places, to the places from which some of the settlements were removed. I don't know of any intent to rebuild them, that isn't something we're told explicitly. But everyone understands where this is going.”

Israel used to have illegal settlements in the Gaza Strip, which were abandoned once it withdrew from the enclave in 2005.

Several Israelis have called for a resettlement into the territory, a move backed by some senior politicians, including ministers.

Israel’s October 2023-present genocidal war on the besieged enclave has killed over 43,700 people, mostly children and women, and injured more than 103,000 others.

The figures exclude tens of thousands of dead who are believed to be buried in the bombed-out ruins of homes, shops, shelters and other buildings.

The military campaign has turned much of the enclave of 2.3 million people into ruins, leaving most civilians homeless and at risk of famine.The Palestinian territory has been identified as one of the places most likely to see deadly hunger levels in the coming months, according to a new report by United Nations food agencies.

The UN International Labour Organization (ILO) has recently announced that “nearly 100 percent” of Gaza’s population has been thrust into poverty with a ruined economy and “staggering” unemployment after more than a year of Israel's war on the blockaded territory.

The UN Trade and Development Agency (UNCTAD) has also reported that Israel’s war on Gaza has devastated the Palestinian enclave’s economy, reducing it to less than one-sixth of its 2022 size.

Eighty-two percent of businesses in Gaza had also been damaged or destroyed, according to the report.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the war-ravaged territory.