Israel is devising a plan to send 10,000 troops to the enclave to seize Gaza City and assassinate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. It is said that this campaign will be the largest since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, as Israeli Defense Forces will make a concerted effort to occupy a specific portion of Gaza. Even if it’s temporary, they aim to establish control over the area.
However, Hamas is reportedly prepared for this. A Hamas operative informed The New York Times that their fighters are poised to ensnare Israeli troops. The situation they encounter upon advancing may leave them bewildered.
Israeli officials believe that this confrontation will not be straightforward. The soldiers will have to be capable of handling potentially hostile individuals with ease.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hatchet of the IDF mentioned that the soldiers will pay special attention to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. He stated, “This individual is on our radar. If he walks, he’s a dead man.”
Another Israeli official has expressed animosity towards Sinwar. Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lanner told ABC News that he compares Sinwar to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Lanner stated, “When they went to war against Israel, they willingly embraced martyrdom.”
He emphasized that they would go to great lengths to get Yahya Sinwar. He is currently the mastermind behind the ongoing attacks.
It’s worth noting that Yahya Sinwar was elected as the head of Hamas in Gaza in 2017, taking over the responsibilities from Ismail Haniyeh.
In response, Israel has warned Hamas to evacuate civilians from their homes in Gaza, overlooking the broader warnings from the international community.
A statement from the Hamas authority for refugee affairs urged residents in the northern part of the Gaza Strip to stay inside their homes and stand firm in the face of this fierce battle.
The Israeli military has informed the United Nations that every resident of Wadi Gaza must be relocated to southern Gaza within 24 hours.
About half of the people in the entire Gaza Strip reside in this area. All citizens of the Gaza City will have to move south within the designated timeframe.
This cautionary message from Israel is delivered just before midnight (Gaza and Jerusalem time).
