Bibi Netanyahu gives the go-ahead to a military offensive

Let us be absolutely clear about the grim necessity unfolding in Gaza, where the clash of civilizations plays out in brutal clarity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the nod to a military offensive on Gaza City, a decision that carries the weight of existential stakes. 

The Israel Defense Forces, under the steely gaze of Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, are poised to strike, having toured the Strip on Thursday with Southern Command’s Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor and other senior officers. This is no mere maneuver; it is a prelude to a campaign aimed at crushing Hamas's grip on the city while, in a delicate parallel, pursuing talks to free 50 hostages still languishing in the hands of Palestinian terrorists. Of those hostages, President Trump had recently predicted that he believes around 20 or less are still alive.

Netanyahu, with the precision of a man who knows the world's eyes are on him, declared, "We are at the stage of decision. I came today to the [IDF] Gaza Division to approve the plans presented to me and the defense minister by the IDF to take control of Gaza City and to defeat Hamas." Yet, in a nod to the moral complexity of this conflict, he added, "At the same time, I directed that immediate negotiations begin for the release of all our hostages and to end the war under conditions acceptable to Israel. These two things: defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages go hand in hand." This is not the language of a leader threading the needle between vengeance and humanity.

Across the Atlantic, the Trump administration has thrown its weight behind a ceasefire proposal, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming on Tuesday that Hamas has, at least on paper, accepted it. But President Trump himself, never one for diplomatic niceties, laid bare the stakes on Truth Social: "The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be." He insists that the hostages' return hinges on Hamas being "confronted and destroyed." 

U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, with a candor that cuts through the fog of diplomacy, noted, "Three weeks ago, that proposal was on the table, and they slow-played us, Hamas. And the president put out his Truth statement saying that he wasn't going to tolerate it anymore, and guess what happened? There's been a major break." 

The proposal, as reported by Arab media, includes an Israeli pullout from parts of Gaza, the release of 10 of the 20 living hostages, and the freeing of over 200 Palestinian terrorists during a 60-day ceasefire. A grim barter, but one that reflects the brutal arithmetic of this war.

Defense Minister Israel Katz, with a rhetoric that could make the devil flinch, warned on Friday, "Soon the gates of hell will open on the heads of Hamas's murderers and rapists in Gaza, until they agree to Israel's conditions for ending the war, chief among them the release of all hostages and their disarmament." He added, with chilling resolve, "If they don't agree, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun. Just as I promised, so it will be." 

This is the language of a nation that has endured the barbarity of October 7, 2023, and will tolerate no more.

Zamir, surveying the battlefield, said: “We are advancing with the efforts toward operations in Gaza City. We already have troops operating on the outskirts of the city, and more forces will join them later on." His mission is twofold and non-negotiable: "Our missions remain the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas; we will not rest and we will not stop until we complete them. Achieving these missions is vital for our future and for our values as a society." 

The Lt. General noted that Hamas, once a formidable terrorist machine, has been reduced to a guerrilla force since the October 7 massacre. Yet, like a wounded beast, it remains dangerous, and Israel will hunt it relentlessly, "for as long and wherever necessary."

The human cost of this operation looms large. Some 800,000 to 1 million residents of Gaza City will be evacuated south to Al-Mawasi near Rafah, a humanitarian corridor carved out amidst the chaos. The IDF's Gaza District Coordination and Liaison Unit has begun warning medical officials and aid organizations, ensuring hospital infrastructure in the south is ready to receive the sick and wounded. Two additional field hospitals and four more Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution centers are planned, with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee stating the goal is to scale up to 16 such sites. 

This is not compassion for its own sake but a recognition that the world watches, and Israel must balance its sword with a shield of humanity.

The IDF's dominance is undeniable. Over 75% of the Gaza Strip is under Israeli control, with 2,000 terrorists killed since ground operations resumed five months ago. Since March 18, 10,000 terrorist targets have been struck, and strategic corridors, Morag and Magen Oz, have sliced through Hamas's strongholds. 

Five IDF divisions, supported by air and naval forces, have dismantled tunnels, neutralized cells, and eliminated senior commanders complicit in the October 7 barbaric atrocities. To sustain this offensive, Katz has authorized the mobilization of 60,000 reservists and extended service for 20,000 more, freeing active-duty troops for what may be a decisive assault on one of Hamas’s last bastions, potentially as early as September.

This is a war of necessity, not choice. Zamir, addressing the Kfir Infantry Brigade and other units, underscored the gravity: "Our struggle is still long, and many challenges lie ahead. All of Israel is looking at you and relying on you. We have no alternative but victory." 

For Israel, this is not merely a fight for territory but for survival, for the right to exist without the shadow of terror. The world may wring its hands, but Israel's resolve is unshakable, and the gates of hell, as Katz promised, are creaking open.

And if you want to Buy Me A Coffee, I wouldn't stop you--it supports my work and I really appreciate it. But no pressure.

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