Israel ‘General’s Plan’ for north Gaza returns as Hamas responds

Israeli forces are reportedly carrying out the latest phase of the notorious ‘General’s Plan,’ which aims to force Palestinians out of northern Gaza with death the option for those who refuse to follow the forced evacuation orders. 

Hebrew-language publication Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir is preparing to implement the ethnic cleansing plan, with the new phase of the operation said to resemble the previous Israeli ground military offensive that forced Palestinian residents from Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, Jabalia refugee camp, and Jabalia, prior to the implementation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in January.  

The earlier phase of the plan saw the import of humanitarian aid to  Gaza cut, prompting aid agencies to warn of imminent starvation, which Israel claims is to force Hamas to the negotiating table.

Hamas blamed Israel for the collapse of the talks and the resumption of war on the territory.

The Israeli army is working to block supply routes for humanitarian aid, pushing residents who had returned to northern Gaza to flee south.  

It comes as Israel broke the truce by launching a wave of attacks on civilian areas in Gaza, killing at least 500 Palestinians including 200 children, and a ground invasion.

The return of Israel’s ‘General’s Plan,’ first reported by Israeli media last September and initiated by the Israeli NGO The Forum of Commanders and Soldiers in the Reserves, has been widely criticised as a form of collective punishment, targeting Palestinian civilians through the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza.  

This development coincided with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announcing on Friday that Israeli troops would intensify air, land, and sea strikes on Gaza, aimed at pressuring Hamas to free the remaining Israeli captives. 

He added that the military would continue escalating strikes and expanding ground operations, which began on Thursday, until the hostages were released and Hamas was defeated. 

Hamas has previously reiterated its willingness to release all remaining captives held in Gaza in a single exchange if the ceasefire agreement with Israel progresses to its second phase.  

This was part of the conditions outlined in a three-phase ceasefire mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, with the first six-week phase intended to pave the way for the second phase. 

The Houthis have pledged to target Israeli ships due to the aid blockade and resumed bombing of Gaza, and this week responded to a US assault on Yemen with missile strikes of its own, hitting Israeli cities.

The escalation comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a string of domestic issues including corruption charges.

Meanwhile, Ronen Bar– who headed Israel’s domestic intelligence agency- has been dismissed, following statement by the PM saying that he no longer trusts him.  

Bar will serve until 10 April or until a permanent replacement is appointed, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. 

Opposition parties, including Yair Lapid‘s center-right Yesh Atid party, announced plans to challenge Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Bar through legal means. 

Later, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that a government meeting will be held on Sunday to vote on a no-confidence motion against Israel’s attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, a vocal critic of Netanyahu. 

On Thursday night, thousands of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem to protest the actions against Bar and Baharav-Miara, with demonstrations outside both the Israeli parliament and Netanyahu’s residence.