Deepening Control Over Gaza

In a important shift in strategy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are “switching gears” in Gaza, a move that observers believe signals a long-term plan for increased control over the territory. This escalation comes as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remain stalled, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates.

Last night in the Gaza Strip,we switched gears. The IDF (israel Defense Forces) is seizing territory, striking the terrorists and destroying the infrastructure.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel

Netanyahu’s statement indicates a purposeful strategy of dividing the Gaza Strip into sections and establishing greater military control.This approach raises concerns about the potential for prolonged occupation and the impact on Palestinian self-governance. The implications for U.S. foreign policy are significant, as the Biden governance navigates its role as a key mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With American taxpayers’ money funding the IDF, the actions of Israel are under even a greater microscope.

escalating Military Operations and Casualties

The IDF is escalating its campaign against Hamas, vowing to seize “large areas” of the Gaza Strip. This intensified military action has resulted in a surge in casualties, with the Gaza health ministry reporting at least 100 deaths in a 24-hour period alone. As March 18, when Israel renewed its military operations, the death toll has reached 1,163.The U.S. State Department has urged restraint, emphasizing the need to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access.

On Thursday, a deadly strike hit the Dar al-Arqam School in the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, killing at least 31 people and injuring dozens more, according to the gaza Civil Defense. The facility was housing displaced Palestinians. The Israeli military stated they targeted a Hamas “command and control center” in the area, alleging it was used to plan attacks against Israeli civilians and troops but did not confirm it was the same location.

The scale of destruction and loss of life raises serious questions about adherence to international humanitarian law. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are closely monitoring the situation, documenting alleged violations and calling for accountability. The U.S. government faces increasing pressure from human rights advocates to condition military aid to Israel on its compliance with international law.

The Morag Corridor and Strategic Land Seizures

A key element of Israel’s new strategy involves seizing the Morag Corridor, a strip of land that once housed the Israeli settlement of Morag. This move, according to Netanyahu, will create “another Philadelphi,” referencing the 8.7-mile Philadelphi corridor along the Egyptian border, which Israel already controls.

We are also doing something else: We are seizing the Morag Corridor. This will be the second Philadelphi, an additional Philadelphi corridor.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel

The seizure of the Morag Corridor has significant implications for the future of Gaza. Maj. Gen. (res.) Eitan dangot, former Coordinator of Government Activities in the palestinian Territories (COGAT), speculated that seizing the Morag corridor could be the start of dividing Gaza into three broad sections for greater control and also “a kind of a political decision in order to give the right-wing extremists in the government, a kind of hope that maybe we will be back in some areas (settlements) as before,”

It means israel or the IDF is going through a very clear process in order to keep areas under closed control by military forces that prevent movement from area to area. There will be full control of traffic that will be allowed to enter and to cross. That means if the time comes that Israel will allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, the control of the convoys will be under more close control.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Eitan Dangot, former Coordinator of Government Activities in the Palestinian Territories (COGAT)

The potential re-establishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza is a highly contentious issue.The disengagement from Gaza in 2005, which involved the dismantling of settlements like Morag and the expulsion of thousands of Israeli settlers, was intended to pave the way for a two-state solution. A return to settlement construction would be widely condemned by the international community and would likely derail any prospects for peace.

The Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

As military operations escalate, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen.A weeks-long humanitarian blockade has led to critical levels of hunger and desperation among the civilian population.

On Wednesday,a large crowd forcibly broke into a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) warehouse in Gaza’s Al-Tuffah neighborhood,looting bags of flour meant for humanitarian distribution and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe lazzarini said in a post on X on Thursday,“Hunger and desperation are spreading as food and relief assistance are being weaponized.”

The United States has pledged additional humanitarian aid to Gaza, but the effectiveness of this assistance is hampered by the ongoing conflict and restrictions on access. Aid organizations are calling for an immediate ceasefire and the lifting of all restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid. The U.S. Agency for International Advancement (USAID) is working with partners on the ground to provide food, water, and medical assistance, but the scale of the crisis is overwhelming.

Stalled Ceasefire negotiations

Efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations have stalled, with Hamas rejecting Israel’s latest proposal for a temporary truce. The proposal would have seen a 40-day cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of 11 hostages.

How do you perceive the balance between military objectives and the protection of civilians in the context of the increased military operations in Gaza?