Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government plan to occupy and hold the entire Gaza Strip amid the continuing destruction of the territory and blocking of food and humanitarian aid.
The reported planned escalation was described as “alarming” by Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris, who added that what is happening to the people of Gaza is “despicable and unconscionable”.
In a video message on Monday, Netanyahu said Gaza’s “population will be moved, for its own protection” and that Israeli Defence Forces will not launch raids and then abandon territory, “but the opposite”.
Palestinians will be forcibly relocated to the south of the territory, according to reports.
However, the threats of escalation are also being seen as a manoeuvre linked to President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13-15.
More than 50,000 Palestinians, including tens of thousands of women and children, have been killed since the Israeli government launched its air and ground assault on Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attack that led to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of more than 250 hostages.
The Israeli cabinet approved plans for the escalation on Monday morning, hours after it was announced tens of thousands of the country’s reserve soldiers are being called up.
European Union spokesperson Anouar el-Anouni said this will “result in further casualties and suffering for the Palestinian population”.
US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said President Donald Trump said “Hamas bears sole responsibility for this conflict, and for the resumption of hostilities”.
Israel broke a ceasefire on March 18, approximately two weeks after the government ordered a block on aid and food entering the territory.
Mr Harris said the latest move would “result in further deaths , casualties and untold suffering for the Palestinian population who already face a dire humanitarian situation”.
“I strongly urge the Israeli authorities to exercise restraint,” he said.
“What is happening to the people of Gaza is despicable and unconscionable. This is a humanitarian catastrophe.
“We need to see an immediate cessation of hostilities, release of remaining hostages and the resumption of humanitarian aid at scale into Gaza.”