Gaza/Jerusalem, 17 Oct (Xinhua) -- The Israel army recently carried out a large-scale military operation in the northern Gaza Strip, and the outside world suspected that Israel intends to carry out a plan to "surrender or starve" there. What is a "surrender or starve" plan? What is the current situation of people in northern Gaza? How does the international community view Israeli military operations?
What is a "surrender or starve" plan?
The "Surrender or Starve" plan was proposed by former Israel National Security Adviser Geora · Elander. The plan calls for the evacuation of all residents of the northern Gaza Strip to the southern humanitarian zone, and those who remain in the north will face starvation.
This is a bazaar photographed in the Jabaliyah area of the northern Gaza Strip on October 15, 2024. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Mahmoud · Zaki)
The Associated Press, citing Israel sources, recently reported that those who remain in the northern Gaza Strip will be considered combatants, which means that the Israeli army will have the right to kill them and deprive them of food, water, medicine and fuel. The plan, which aims to achieve Israel's control of the northern Gaza Strip, seeks to create a new government without the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and divide the Gaza Strip in two.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on 6 October that based on intelligence, situation assessments and Israeli activities on the ground, the Israeli army believes that there are many militants in the Jabaliya area of the northern Gaza Strip and that Hamas is trying to rebuild its combat capability in the area, so the Israeli army has begun operations in the area.
Israel media Haaretz quoted informed sources on the 13th as saying that the operation may lay the foundation for the implementation of the so-called "surrender or starvation" plan.
What is the current situation in northern Gaza
The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Philippe ·Lazarini, said on social media on the 14th that the Israeli army has carried out intensive air strikes and ground operations in the northern Gaza Strip for two weeks, resulting in the death of hundreds of Palestinians and more than 400,000 people trapped in the area. The Jabaliya refugee camp was the hardest hit, with some 50,000 people forced to flee.
Palestinians evacuate their homes in Jebaliyah, northern Gaza Strip, October 9, 2024. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Abdulrahman · Salama)
The evacuation order has severely affected all parts of the Gaza Strip, leading to waves of displacement. According to data released by the United Nations on the 15th, since the outbreak of a new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7, 2023, Israeli troops have issued more than 65 withdrawal orders. Even excluding evacuation orders that have already been revoked, some 84 per cent of the Gaza Strip is still under evacuation orders. In the past 10 days alone, at least 75,000 people have been displaced, mostly in the north.
Continued attacks and sieges have led to a rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on the 15th that the food security situation in the northern Gaza Strip has deteriorated rapidly, and food aid into the Gaza Strip has fallen to the lowest level in months, and commercial goods can hardly be transported in. In addition, many surgeries could not be performed in all three hospitals in North Gaza Province because of severe shortages of fuel, blood and some medicines, as well as ongoing military operations.
Ahmed · Asaleya, a 45-year-old Palestinian, has just fled from Jabaliya to the Shati refugee camp in the north. He told Xinhua reporters that the sound of explosions was incessant along the way. "Death was so close to us, we miraculously escaped from the bombardment and the hail of bullets. But what about life now? My kids have only eaten a few bites of food in the past week. How did they survive? ”
How the international community reacted
Philip · Lazzarini said on social media on the 14th that international humanitarian law clearly stipulates that people cannot be forcibly displaced by force, civilians should be protected at all times, and if they choose to stay, they should be provided with basic necessities. In the Gaza Strip, too many red lines have been crossed.
On October 16, 2024, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the Security Council convened an emergency public meeting on the situation in the Gaza Strip. Xinhua News Agency (Photo courtesy of the United Nations/Photo by Essekin · Debebe)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France issued a statement on the 14th, saying that France is deeply concerned about the extremely serious situation in the northern Gaza Strip and that any forced displacement of civilians will constitute a serious violation of international law.
Palestinian presidential spokesman Abu · Rudeina said a few days ago that United States continues to provide political, economic and military support to Israel, enabling it to continue to fight Palestinians and flouting international law and United Nations resolutions, which hinders accountability for Israel's atrocities and increases tensions in the Gaza Strip.
Israel's National Security Institute published an article on the 15th that the implementation of the "surrender or starvation" plan has limited effect. Many of them were able to survive thanks to Hamas's stockpiles. Instead, the plan poses a risk to the detainees, as they may be the first to be deprived of food and water as supplies dwindle. The article also argues that even if the target of the siege is Hamas, this does not absolve Israel of its obligation to allow humanitarian aid to enter. If Israel were to impose a siege on the northern Gaza Strip, even if legal, it would face harsh criticism while escalating accusations of war crimes.