Israel begins the preliminary phase of occupying the city of Gaza with Operation "Gideon's Chariots 2"

The occupying army announced today, Wednesday, the start of the preliminary phase of the occupation of Gaza City, with intensive operations beginning in the Zaitoun neighborhood and Jabalia. This step comes after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz approved the "Gideon II Vehicles" plan, aimed at controlling the city, which has sparked internal criticism in Israel.

The occupying army's radio reported that the army will begin in the coming days to push the residents of Gaza towards the southern part of the sector as part of the preliminary operations for the occupation of the city. An Israeli military official indicated that the attack plan on Gaza City is expected to be completed in the coming days.

In a related context, the official confirmed that the occupying army will call up up to 50,000 reservists before the operation begins, noting that most of the forces participating will be active-duty soldiers. He explained that the reservists who will be called up may perform tasks in the air force or intelligence.

On another note, the Israeli Ministry of Defense approved the plan to occupy Gaza City, which was presented by Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. This plan has been named "Gideon II Vehicles," continuing the previous operation launched by the army last May.

The Israeli Defense Minister claimed that this plan aims to end the war by releasing all Israeli prisoners in the sector, in addition to disarming Hamas and exiling its leaders. He also claimed that "humanitarian preparations" have been approved to accommodate the Palestinians who will be forced to flee by the army.

On the other hand, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak described the plan as a "deadly trap," emphasizing that the occupation of Gaza will serve Hamas and grant it a political victory, and that the operation will not return the Israeli captives but will lead to their deaths.

At the same time, families of Israeli prisoners considered that the plan that should have been approved is a prisoner exchange deal that returns all captives, not a plan to occupy Gaza City. These developments come at a time when mediators such as Egypt, Qatar, and the United States continue their efforts to reach a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange in the Gaza Strip.