Israel’s top general, Eyal Zamir, said Wednesday the army has entered the second phase of its operation to occupy Gaza, which is expected to displace the blockaded Palestinian enclave's population, amid growing international outrage.
"We have entered the second phase of Operation ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ to fulfill the objectives of the war. Returning our hostages is both a moral and national mission,” Zamir told army troops in the field.
The move came days after the Israeli army declared Gaza City a "dangerous combat zone” on Friday.
On Aug. 8, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to gradually reoccupy the Gaza Strip, beginning with Gaza City.
A senior Israeli military official said on Wednesday that authorities estimated that an imminent offensive in the Gaza Strip would displace one million Palestinians, planning a new "humanitarian area" for them.
