Wednesday October 2016 – The Generals’ Plan of Giora Eiland – Voluntary Siege: The US has reportedly given Israel a 30 day ultimatum to increase food and humanitarian supplies to Gaza. This is because there are signs the IDF is doing the opposite after tacitly adopting the Generals Plan of Giora Eiland, retired IDF general.
The Generals Plan plan aims to counter the use of human shields. It was debated on September 18, 2024 by the Israeli Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee – see: https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/news/pressreleases/pages/press18924r.aspx
Here’s a key quote from Eiland:
“Sinwar is the classic dictator; he fears an alternative to his rule, and he fears the population, and this is why there will not be a deal.
“So what do we do now? We propose a maneuver that could change the reality: The IDF besieges all of Gaza and controls the Netzarim Corridor. We have to tell the residents of north Gaza that they have one week to evacuate the territory, which then becomes a military zone; [a zone] in which every figure is a target and, most importantly, no supplies enter this territory. A siege is not only an effective military tactic; it is also compliant with international law. What matters to Sinwar is land and dignity, and with this maneuver you take away both land and dignity. Those who do not believe this is a good plan – propose something else.”
The General’s Plan may comply with international law but it has caught the world by surprise and there is a US Presidential Election approaching. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken have reportedly sent Israel the 30 day ultimatum in a letter to the Israeli government. It threatens to reduce arms supplies if the IDF doesn’t increase aid supplies to Northern Gaza and let the civilian population stay put there even though Hamas seeks to dominate the region itself militarily. The arguments are some Gazan civilians don’t want to move or are unable to. Eiland has replied the IDF should/would help them leave.
Comment: The war in Gaza and Lebanon is not just about international law, it’s about right and wrong. October 7 was wrong. Is voluntary siege to prevent the repetition of October 7 right? Israelis think so. Perhaps we will find out in the next month or so – presumably just after the US election on November 5, 2024.
