Israel approves major Gaza city operation as ceasefire talks resume amid mass protests

Israel’s army chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, has formally approved a large-scale military operation to encircle and seize Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban center, escalating the nearly two-year-old war.

The plan, reported by Israeli media, calls for several brigade-sized units totaling at least 80,000 troops to advance with air force support. A senior military source said the operation would “exact a heavy price from Hamas but also carries significant risks for Israeli forces.” Troops are expected to move into new areas within days to intensify pressure.

The operation includes a two-week forced evacuation of civilians from central Gaza, followed by a gradual entry into the city. Israeli authorities intend to present the plan to U.S. officials at Washington’s request. Concerns have been raised within the army that seizing the city could leave Israel responsible for distributing humanitarian aid until residents relocate south.

The decision comes amid heavy bombardments on Aug. 18 that killed at least 17 Palestinians, including eight who were waiting for aid, according to Gaza officials. Civil defense authorities later reported more than 60 dead, among them dozens gathered near food distribution points.

Meanwhile, Hamas negotiators in Cairo have received a new proposal from mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States for a 60-day truce that would include a phased hostage release. A Palestinian official described the offer as a “framework agreement to launch negotiations on a permanent ceasefire.” Hamas and other Palestinian factions are now reviewing the plan.

A day of protests

The latest mediation push coincides with mounting domestic unrest inside Israel. Tens of thousands of demonstrators — with organizers estimating up to 500,000 — rallied in Tel Aviv on Sunday night in one of the largest protests since the war began. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which organized the strike and demonstrations, accused the government of prolonging the war and demanded the return of captives held in Gaza.

“We demand a comprehensive and achievable agreement and an end to the war. We demand what is rightfully ours — our children,” said Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan, addressing the crowd. A video of her son, emaciated and speaking under duress in captivity, surfaced on Sunday, further fueling anger.

Protests also spread nationwide, with demonstrators blocking roads, setting tires ablaze and clashing with police. Authorities reported more than 30 arrests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the protests, saying they “harden Hamas’s position” and risk prolonging hostage captivity. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the movement a “perverse and harmful campaign,” while opposition leader Benny Gantz blamed the government for failing to secure the hostages’ release.

Famine warnings

International concern is mounting as Israel prepares to expand its assault. The United Nations has warned of looming famine in Gaza, where restrictions on aid deliveries remain severe. Hamas has warned that the assault on Gaza City will trigger “a new wave of extermination and mass displacement.”

The war, now in its 22nd month, was triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that left 1,219 people dead, mostly civilians, and saw 251 hostages taken. Israel’s response has since killed more than 61,900 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures cited by the UN. Forty-nine hostages remain in Gaza, including 27 that Israel believes are dead.