The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have announced their plan to allow residents living within 4 kilometers of the Gaza Strip to return to their homes in the coming days. This decision comes after the recent escalation of tensions in the region. However, it should be noted that the plan has yet to be officially approved by the military.
According to the radio station Kan, the IDF has promised to approve the program that would enable residents to return to their homes within four kilometers of the Gaza border. However, areas closer to the border are still considered closed military zones.
The situation in the Middle East escalated when thousands of Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip on October 7th, marking the start of the “Flood of Al-Aqsa” operation. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war.
Israel’s counter-operation, named “Iron Swords,” aimed to repel the attack, free more than 200 hostages (including foreigners), and destroy Hamas. From the first day of the operation, Israel carried out intensive missile strikes on the Gaza Strip. As part of this effort, the Israeli National Security Council decided to halt the supply of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the region. Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza only resumed through the Rafah border crossing after October 20th, though the volume of aid has been deemed insufficient.
On October 27th, Israel announced the “expansion” of its ground operation in Gaza. The exact start date of this operation remains unknown, but prior to its commencement, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians evacuated their homes and sought shelter in bunkers and in the southern part of the enclave. As of November 5th, fighting still continues in the center of Gaza, as the IDF has surrounded the city and cut off its supply lines.
In a separate development, the Lebanese movement Hezbollah declared October 18th as a “day of anger” against Israel.
