Watan-All signs on the ground indicate that Israel is moving toward expanding its massacres in Gaza to enforce, through tanks, warplanes, and heavily armed military units, its plan to occupy the territory and expel its population. This comes after Israel clearly announced the formation of a new occupation administration tasked with governing Gaza.
Over the past week, Israeli forces have significantly intensified their air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip, expanding their ground operations and forcibly displacing residents in wide areas, making them flee on foot. Civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, were forced to walk through rugged paths surrounded by tanks and soldiers, who committed multiple field executions during these displacements.
One of the bloodiest attacks took place in Rafah, where the Israeli army suddenly ordered the evacuation of the western areas, which had previously been designated “humanitarian zones” before Israel’s ground invasion began last May. Civilians, surrounded by tanks and drones, were forced to flee on foot through dangerous and sandy routes, often crossing military checkpoints where many were executed.
Israeli Bombardment Traps Thousands as “Safe Zones” Turn Into Mass Graveyards
More than 5,000 people remained trapped in the city, unable to comply with Israeli evacuation orders, including medics and civil defense workers who stayed to provide assistance. Rafah’s municipality accused Israel of subjecting those residents to “slow execution” by denying evacuations and blocking food and water access.
Heavy Israeli bombardments followed, targeting western and central Rafah, causing mass casualties—many of whom remain uncounted due to Israel’s control over some areas and refusal to allow access.
The same brutal pattern is being repeated in Khan Younis, particularly in the western area of Al-Mawasi, where displaced people from Rafah and other eastern areas were ordered to relocate. These “humanitarian zones” have been repeatedly bombed, including direct hits on tents, wiping out entire families.
In central Gaza and Gaza City, Israeli forces escalated their systematic destruction of civilian homes, causing large numbers of deaths and leveling many houses—some with residents inside, others already evacuated—spreading fear among the population. Airstrikes have even hit tents and shelters, killing children.
Gaza has also been isolated from the rest of the Strip by the closure of Salah al-Din Road. The eastern and southern border areas have been heavily targeted by Israeli missiles, resulting in many deaths.
In northern Gaza, the cities of Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia have been subjected to artillery fire, forcing more people to flee to southern Gaza City, once again throwing their lives into chaos and horror. Many residents, under intensified military escalation, expressed more fear than during previous wars.
Mass Casualties and Systematic Destruction
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported that Israel is killing over 103 Palestinians and injuring 223 others every 24 hours. More than 200,000 new people were displaced in just one week, with thousands more preparing to flee amid the total absence of safety.
Homes—what remains of them—continue to be bombed, including tents where civilians shelter after 18 months of war crimes. The report called this a daily crime by the Israeli army, carried out without military necessity.
UNRWA said displaced families “were forced to flee relentless bombardment, carrying the little they have, with no shelter, no safety, and nowhere to go.” It added that Israel has cut off all aid, food is scarce, prices are soaring, and this is a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe.
These escalated attacks are not related to the Israeli captives held by resistance forces. The real aim appears to be eliminating Hamas and all resistance factions, disarming them, and displacing their members.
This is underscored by Israel’s announcement of a new administration to oversee the expulsion of Gaza’s population. The Israeli Security Cabinet approved Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s proposal to establish this unit inside the Defense Ministry, which will organize and facilitate the departure of Gazans to third countries.
The new administration will “prepare to ensure the safe and orderly departure” of Gazans, providing travel routes and screening measures, and coordinating infrastructure for land, sea, and air travel—according to Donald Trump’s vision. Minister Gallant said, “We are using all means to implement the U.S. president’s vision. Any Gaza resident who wants to relocate to a third country will be allowed to do so.”
Israeli military experts have prepared logistical plans to begin the mass expulsion. The goal: to deport 50,000 Gazans per month, facilitating family reunifications abroad as soon as possible.
The administration’s head will be appointed soon. It enjoys U.S. support—U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz described relocating Palestinians out of Gaza as “practical,” claiming it’s irrational to “spend billions rebuilding Gaza only to see terrorists attack again.”
Wider Invasion Plans Underway
In light of this, Israel has escalated its military operations to an unprecedented level, adding tighter siege measures.
Reports say Israel’s 36th Division is preparing for a major operation. Haaretz reported preparations to implement Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi’s plan for a massive ground invasion involving multiple divisions and reserve units, aiming to impose direct military rule in Gaza or parts of it.
The paper described ongoing intense bombardments as a precursor to a wide-scale ground invasion. Halevi reportedly told Netanyahu this plan could finally achieve what 18 months of war failed to do: the total dismantling of Hamas’s authority and military capabilities, and the imposition of Israeli control over aid distribution.
Security sources told Haaretz Israel may still leave room for a temporary hostage deal. But due to political pressure, the army is likely to proceed with the plan even without an agreement—suggesting the war is not intended to end but to continue through cycles of prisoner exchanges and resumed fighting.
Netanyahu made this clear, saying pressure on Hamas will include seizing land and “other things” he declined to detail. He vowed to escalate military actions if Hamas continues to resist releasing captives.
Former Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel stated bluntly that the Israeli government does not want to retrieve all captives, as doing so would require ending the war and collapsing Netanyahu’s coalition. The government, he said, is only seeking partial returns.
Israel continues to reject all ceasefire proposals. Egypt recently presented a plan for successive prisoner exchanges, full Israeli withdrawal, and a halt to the war—Hamas agreed, but Israel refused to respond or commit to ending its military operations.
Hamas accused Netanyahu of intentionally derailing the agreement under pressure from far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir and warned that reckless Israeli bombardments threaten the lives of the captives it holds. It accused Netanyahu of lying to Israelis by claiming military options could bring the captives home alive, stating:“Every time Israel tried to recover its captives by force, they returned in coffins.”
Total Siege and Humanitarian Collapse
Israel has intensified its blockade of Gaza, cutting off aid for over three weeks—the longest interruption since October 7, 2023. The UN reiterated that all parties must comply with international law and protect civilians, condemning Israel’s aid blockade.
UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna described the situation as “near-total collapse” and called for a ceasefire and the delivery of thousands of aid trucks, warning that without it, “this is a death sentence for Gaza’s people and infrastructure.”
Residents are now complaining of severe food shortages after more than three weeks of complete siege. Gaza’s government media office said 85% of people have lost access to food, markets are empty, and famine is imminent.
Dozens of bakeries have closed due to fuel shortages caused by Israeli bans. Israel has also destroyed 719 water wells and 330,000 meters of water infrastructure, while over 280,000 families now live without shelter due to bans on tents and caravans.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said Gaza is facing its darkest hour. “No humanitarian aid has entered for over three weeks,” he stressed, adding that parents can’t find food, patients have no medicine, and disease is spreading.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Israel is “effectively denying access to water” by cutting off electricity and fuel. Children are suffering from skin diseases directly linked to the destruction and blockade.
Gaza’s primary healthcare system has also collapsed. According to Dr. Ahed Samour, Director of Primary Care in Gaza’s Health Ministry, most clinics are destroyed and the few still functioning are unable to provide medicine or vaccines. Ministry spokesperson Dr. Munir Al-Barsh warned that 80% of patients are without medications, and the entire health system is on the brink of collapse.
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