How is Israel paving the way for the "Occupation of Gaza"?

Israeli occupation forces intensified their airstrikes and demolition operations on residential buildings in the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza City over the past week, forcing most of its residents to flee westward into the city. This attack coincides with the massive destruction left by the occupation's operations in the neighborhoods of Al-Shuja'iyya and Al-Tuffah in eastern Gaza, suggesting that the Israeli government has begun actual steps on the ground to occupy what remains of the city.

The recent ground incursion by the Israeli army into Gaza City began on April 3, where orders were issued to evacuate the residents of the Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood in the east of the city, and a military operation was announced that led to the destruction of large parts of the neighborhood and prevented its residents from returning. The Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood is home to 110,000 people and covers an area of about 14.3 square kilometers, constituting 20% of the total area of Gaza Governorate.

The Israeli military operations extended to the Al-Tuffah neighborhood, which is estimated to cover an area of about 2.8 square kilometers and is inhabited by 37,000 Palestinians. A week ago, the occupation began extensive demolition operations in the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood, which constitutes 13% of the city's area and is home to 78,000 Palestinians. With the Israeli army asserting its control through firepower over the three neighborhoods, it has occupied 37% of Gaza Governorate.

The spokesperson for the Gaza Municipality, engineer Asem Al-Nabi, believes that it is currently difficult to assess the damage inflicted on the eastern neighborhoods of the city that the occupation army has invaded, but he confirmed that vast areas have been destroyed. Most of the homes and facilities located east of Salah al-Din Street have been subjected to destruction, in an Israeli attempt to make the city unlivable.

Security researcher Rami Abu Zbeida sees that the ongoing demolition and destruction indicate the beginning of a silent military operation to occupy the city without an official announcement. He points out that the occupation forces are paving the way for an advance towards the city center, which is evident from the accelerated scale of explosions in the southern part of the city.

With the Israeli security cabinet's announcement of approval for the occupation of Gaza City, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Eyal Zamir, will arrive at the Southern Command to approve operational plans. These steps indicate the occupation's intention to expand the scope of aggression further.

The director of the Center for Political and Development Studies in Gaza, Rami Khreis, outlined three scenarios for the future of the war on Gaza, including a complete occupation of the sector with the establishment of military rule, which is the option adopted by the head of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces significant field and logistical challenges.

The second option is to cut off the sector and besiege the strongholds of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which is the military option preferred by the army, based on imposing a tight siege without a comprehensive occupation. The third option is to adhere to ceasefire negotiations under the pressure of gradual exhaustion, which is an alternative option based on diplomatic efforts.

Khreis favors the scenario of cutting off the sector and besieging Hamas strongholds, allowing the Israelis to pressure the resistance without entering into a comprehensive occupation fraught with risks. Full occupation opens the door to severe and prolonged resistance, which could lead to further escalation.