The Israeli occupation army conducted preliminary discussions with the political leadership ahead of tonight’s war cabinet meeting, including a meeting between Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. In the meeting, the army presented operational plans for occupying Gaza and its security implications, according to the Palestinian Ma’an agency. The Israeli army believes that any plan approved by the political and war cabinet to occupy the Gaza Strip requires time for careful preparation, troop deployment, and extensive mobilization of reserve forces. At the same time, the Israeli occupation army estimates the necessity to evacuate and relocate about 800,000 residents of Gaza City to displacement areas in the southern sector. Those who spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the past 24 hours believe he prefers a gradual move, starting with besieging Gaza City, which may eventually lead to occupying the entire sector.

Close associates of Netanyahu stated, according to Israeli Channel 12, that movements in Gaza are coordinated with Americans and Russians, including Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.