Media: Israel sets October deadline for forced evacuation of Gaza City

Israel’s security cabinet has approved a multi-phase military plan aimed at “defeating Hamas” by taking control of Gaza City, demanding the entire population to leave the city by October 7.

The cabinet also adopted five guiding principles for ending the war, including Israeli security control over Gaza and the establishment of a civilian administration independent of both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. The resolution uses the term “seizure” rather than “occupation,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Maan News Agency. 

According to the report, the plan consists of three phases:

Phase 1: Large-scale humanitarian aid will be delivered to Gaza City to meet the needs of civilians in combat zones.

Phase 2: Gaza City residents are expected to leave their homes and evacuate southward to the southern Gaza Strip and central refugee camps. This evacuation is slated for completion by October 7, 2025.

Phase 3: Gaza City will be placed under a complete siege and come under full military control as part of efforts to eliminate Hamas.

Israeli officials said the entire operation could last up to five months. The October 7 deadline for completing the evacuation in Phase 2 is symbolic, marking the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack, an Israeli said.

While humanitarian aid will be significantly expanded at the beginning of Phase 1, Israeli authorities plan to withhold aid distribution within Gaza City itself, aiming to encourage Palestinians to evacuate, a second Israeli source told CNN.

The plan focuses narrowly on Gaza City and excludes surrounding camps, but it still entails the forced displacement of nearly half of Gaza’s population. Israel’s military already controls approximately 75 per cent of the territory.

An overwhelming majority of cabinet ministers rejected an alternative plan presented to the government, concluding it would neither defeat Hamas nor secure the release of hostages.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly pushed for full Israeli control of the entire Gaza Strip.

Ahead of the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu told Fox News: “We intend to.” He added, “We are aiming to remove Hamas in Gaza, before handing the territory to civilian governance that is not Hamas, and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel.”

By Sabina Mammadli