Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet approved a controversial military plan to "take over" Gaza City and surrounding areas on August 8, sparking global condemnation and deepening fears for the enclave's 2.3 million residents. The move comes as displaced families vow to resist displacement, with one resident declaring: "Death at home is better than death in the streets."
Badr Abu Aslih, a Gaza resident interviewed by CGTN Stringer, described complete societal collapse since the plan's announcement. "Markets are empty, hospitals have no supplies, and people are sleeping in bombed-out buildings," he reported, painting a grim picture of daily life under the shadow of military escalation.
Saadi Saeed Karim, another resident, embodied the growing defiance: "I will not leave my home. We left once during the last offensive, and we will not do it again." This sentiment echoes across Gaza's neighborhoods, where many families still live in unrepaired homes damaged during previous conflicts.
The UN Human Rights Office has recorded 147 Palestinian fatalities in Gaza since January 2023, with concerns mounting about civilian protection. International reactions have been swift, with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit calling the plan "a dangerous escalation that violates international law."
Analysts suggest the move could derail fragile peace negotiations while exacerbating what the World Health Organization already classifies as one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. With 80% of Gaza's population dependent on aid and unemployment nearing 50%, the proposed military operation threatens to collapse remaining economic structures.
