“Could last several months”: Israel implements plan to expel Palestinians from north Gaza

Gaza (Quds News Network)- The Israeli military is now implementing a “scaled-down” version of “The General’s Plan” in the Jabalia refugee camp, north of Gaza, according to a report published on Friday in the Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, adding the assault in the north could last for several months.

Conceived by retired Major-General Giora Eiland, “The General’s Plan” aims to empty northern Gaza of its 400,000 residents to make way for a “closed military zone”.

The plan, which was launched in an Israeli TV campaign in September, called for the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza, warning that those that remain will face starvation.

“The right thing to do is to inform the approximately 300,000 residents who remained in the northern Gaza Strip… we are ordering you to leave,” Eiland said last month.

“In a week, the entire territory of the northern Gaza Strip will become military territory.”

On Saturday, the military launched its assault on Jabalia camp. Israeli forces have imposed a full siege on the camp and surrounding neighborhoods such as Tal Al-Za’atar, Al-Sikka, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahia. Tanks and drone aircraft have blocked critical roads, including the junction leading to Al-Halabi Square in Jabalia, isolating residents who are already enduring relentless airstrikes and artillery fire. Several families are reportedly trapped under the rubble as rescue teams cannot reach them.

According to the UN, at least 400,000 Palestinians are trapped in northern Gaza. Palestinians attempting to flee the Jabalia camp have also been shot at, according to residents and footage shared on social media.

Meanwhile, residents took to social media with frantic posts warning that “Northern Gaza is being wiped out.”

According to the report, even though “The General’s Plan” aims to create conditions to force the population in Jabalia and nearby Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia to flee south, most people have refused to leave their homes so far.

For months, Palestinians in Gaza have said there are no safe zones in the enclave.

The assault in the north, including the siege, is unlike raids conducted by the army in the previous year and could last for several months, the report said.

“We have eliminated more than 100 terrorists so far in the operation, but we are prepared to operate continuously here for several months as well,” an Israeli military spokesperson told Yedioth Ahronoth.

In an analysis piece published by Haaretz on Friday, journalist Amos Harel said that there were two aims in Israeli military actions in northern Gaza.

“The declared goal of the operation there by the 162nd Division is to degrade Hamas’ military networks, which regrouped during the months that the IDF withdrew from the northern part of the Strip,” Harel reported.

He added that the other aim of the operation, “which was noted publicly only in passing”, was to clear the area of Palestinian civilians.

He noted that those attempts have “major significance in terms of Israel’s future plans in the Gaza Strip, and in particular for the moves being concocted by the far right to ensure a lengthy occupation and the renewal of the settlement project”.

"We order you to leave, in a week the entire area will become a military zone; No supply will enter"

Former Israeli General Giora Eiland has launched a campaign called 'The General’s Plan,' demanding that the Israeli army "empty" northern Gaza by starving the remaining… pic.twitter.com/3wNKJ1dsnB

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) September 12, 2024

Israel’s public broadcaster Kann reported that the renewed incursion on Jabalia could signal the implementation of the plan.

“The entire northern area of ​​the Gaza Strip will be cleansed according to the generals’ plan – the entire population will be evacuated…and the entire northern area of ​​the Gaza Strip will be declared a closed military area,” the network reported on Saturday.

In recent weeks, the plan was reportedly being considered by Israel’s government, with Reuters reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said it “makes sense”.