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The Israel Defense Forces say they're
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intensifying their offensive inside
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Gaza, part of an operation they're
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calling Gideon's chariots. The IDF chief
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of staff has visited troops in the
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southern city of Khan Ununus where he
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told them that they have severely
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degraded the capabilities of Hamas uh
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and that they are not there to fight an
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endless war. This is as Israeli media
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report that every standing infantry and
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armored brigade of the IDF is now
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deployed to Gaza, marking the biggest
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commitment uh since the peak of the war
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last year. Israeli military figures are
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estimating that this new offensive will
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last around two months and the goal is
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for Israel's military to directly
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control around 70% of the Gaza Strip.
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The Gaza media office, which is part of
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the Hamasrun government, says the
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Israeli military already controls
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77% of Gaza, either through direct
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military presence, uh, evacuation
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orders, or ongoing bombardment. And all
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of this is occurring uh in a context of
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very very difficult conditions uh for
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the Gazin population where Israel has
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been blocking the entry of food into
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Gaza until allowing a very small amount
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to come into the strip in recent days.
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Uh aid groups say it's vastly
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insufficient. Um but some of that food
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is starting to filter out into the
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population. And this week, reports are
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suggesting that the Israeli government
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is preparing to implement a new aid
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delivery mechanism that it's been
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planning for some time. This would see
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the Israeli military supervise areas in
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the south of the Gaza Strip where
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private contractors, including private
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security contractors, would distribute
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aid to certain people in Gaza. Uh,
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Israel says this plan will alleviate the
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suffering in Gaza caused by food
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shortages without allowing Hamas to take
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any of the food that comes into Gaza.
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But humanitarian groups, including the
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UN, have condemned the plan, saying it's
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it's gravely in breach of humanitarian
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principles and could allow Israel uh to
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use aid as a means to achieve military
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goals.