The Israeli military has approved the “framework” for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, days after the country’s security cabinet called for the seizure of Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the territory.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Armed Forces Chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir had signed off on “the main framework for the IDF’s operational plan in the Gaza Strip.” However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has not disclosed a specific timetable for when troops will advance into the city, where thousands have sought refuge after fleeing earlier assaults.
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli air strikes on Gaza City have intensified in recent days, with the residential neighbourhoods of Zeitoun and Sabra suffering “very heavy” bombardments, allegedly targeting civilian homes and potentially high-rise buildings.
The Israeli military announcement comes just hours after Hamas said a senior delegation had arrived in Cairo for “preliminary talks” with Egyptian officials regarding a potential temporary truce.
Plans to expand the war, now in its 23rd month, have drawn widespread criticism from the international community and stirred opposition within Israel. UN-backed experts have warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the risk of widespread famine, as Israel continues to limit humanitarian aid entering the enclave.
The conflict began in October 2023 after a Hamas-led attack killed 1,219 people in Israel, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Since then, at least 61,599 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military campaign, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, figures the United Nations deems reliable.
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