The Israeli government on May 5 unveiled a new military plan for the Gaza Strip, an operation forebodingly dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots” (Merkavot Gideon) after an Old Testament conqueror. Approved unanimously by the security cabinet, the plan calls for the “conquering of Gaza” and retaining the territory indefinitely, an official said. The plan also includes concentrating the Palestinian civilian population in a “sterile area” in the south of the Strip. The official said Israel will give Hamas until the end of US President Donald Trump’s trip to the Middle East, which is 10 days from now, to agree to a hostage deal. Otherwise, “Operation Gideon’s Chariots will begin with great force and will not end until all its objectives are achieved.” The military is already calling up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for the new operation. (TNA, ToI, TML, JNS, DW, BBC News)
The official government spokesperson David Mencer said the plan calls for “the expanding and holding of territoriesânot occupationâthe expanding and holding of territories and remaining in them to prevent Hamas from taking it [sic] back.” However, hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated: “We are finally going to conquer the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation.'” He added that there would be no withdrawal, even in exchange for the hostages. (NewsHour, ToI, MEE, Viory)
See our last reports on the “transfer” plan, genocidal rhetoric from Israeli officials, and genocide accusations against Israel.
Photo:Â Jaber Jehad Badwan via Wikimedia Commons
UN rights expert calls for emergency session on Gaza
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, called May 6 for an arms embargo and sanctions against Israel, advocating for an emergency session in the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
The Special Rapporteur also urged the UNGA to act under the “Uniting for Peace” resolution. Resolution 377a (V) was adopted on Nov. 3, 1950. This allows the UNGA to convene an emergency special session within 24 hours. This session enables the General Assembly to:
This mechanism was initially adopted for cases when the Security Council fails to act as required to ensure international security and peace due to a lack of unanimity among its five permanent members. (Jurist)
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on May 6 criticised the reported proposal of Israeli authorities to deliver humanitarian assistance through military-controlled hubs, which would violate the core principles of neutral, impartial, and independent aid delivery. (Jurist)
Hostage released following direct talks between US and Hamas
Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander has been released by Hamas from Gaza. Alexander had been held in captivity in Gaza since Hamasâ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The deal follows direct negotiations between Hamas and the US to secure the release of Alexander. This also comes as reports emerge of a fraying relationship between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (PRI)
See our last report on the fate of the hostages.
Ex-hostage says IDF air-strikes what she feared most
Naama Levy, one of five IDF female surveillance soldiers released in the ceasefire-hostage deal back in January, told a 1,500-odd crowd at the weekly rally at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square May 24 that the thing she feared most in Gaza was the Israeli air-strikes.
“They come by surprise,” she said. “First you hear a whistle, pray it doesnât fall on you, and thenâthe booms, a noise loud enough to paralyze you, the earth shakes.”
“I was convinced every single time that this was my end, and itâs also what put me in the most danger: one of the bombardments collapsed part of the house I was in. The wall I was leaning on didn’t collapse, and that’s what saved me.
“That was my reality, and now it’s their reality. At this very moment, there are hostages who hear those same whistles and booms, shaking with fear. They have nowhere to run, just pray and cling to the wall in a horrible feeling of powerlessness.” (ToI)