Israel's Gaza Genocide Plan May Be Imminent

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians, including children, clutch pans in hopes of securing hot meals distributed by charitable organizations in Khan Yunis on May 6, 2025. | Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images

Israel’s protracted conflict in Gaza, already a moral quagmire, stands on the precipice of catastrophic escalation. This month, Israel’s security cabinet greenlit a strategy dubbed ‘Gideon’s Chariots,’ outlined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the war’s concluding phase. The plan envisions the mass demolition of remaining structures in Gaza and the Israeli ‘conquest’ of significant portions of the Strip.

The over two million Palestinian civilians face a stark choice: remain indefinitely in a minuscule ‘humanitarian area’ or depart for another country. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly advocated for a policy aimed at inflicting so much suffering that Palestinians are coerced into leaving—a clear instance of ethnic cleansing.

Smotrich asserted on May 6 that ‘within a few months…Gaza will be totally destroyed,’ leaving civilians ’totally despairing’ and seeking relocation to start anew elsewhere. The current situation in Gaza is dire, with an Israeli blockade on foreign aid resulting in starving children. If Israel proceeds with Smotrich’s vision, the outcome would be unimaginable death and suffering.

Matt Duss, executive vice president at the Center for International Policy, stated, ‘My organization has not used the term genocide before. We do now.’ The U.S. has largely been absent in efforts to alter the ground situation. The Trump administration has shown no interest in aiding Palestinians and has given Netanyahu a free hand. Trump himself has entertained the idea of removing Palestinians from Gaza and relocating them to neighboring Arab states.

There is still a window to alter the war’s trajectory. Israel has its own reasons for hesitating on this maximalist assault, and Trump has previously shown a willingness to push for a ceasefire when politically advantageous. However, Israel’s plans are unfolding at a time when many Americans have turned their attention away from Gaza’s horrors, either due to war fatigue or domestic distractions.

This is precisely the wrong moment to look away. What Israel is contemplating is not just another round of fighting but a criminal escalation of an already morally reprehensible war. The stakes are clear: we are at a critical juncture where the fate of Palestinians in Gaza hangs in the balance. The Israeli military has delayed the implementation of Gideon’s Chariots until after Trump’s Middle East trip, providing a narrow opportunity to persuade Israel against this path.

Experts like Ilan Goldenberg, a senior Middle East official in the Biden administration, believe there is a genuine chance Israel does not genuinely intend to carry out this plan. ‘The hope is that it is a threat to apply pressure on Hamas to release hostages,’ Goldenberg said. This hope is rooted not in Israeli benevolence but in a calculation of self-interest. Goldenberg warns that such an operation would be disastrous for civilians and unlikely to eliminate Hamas, potentially leading to a protracted insurgency.

Yehuda Shaul, co-director of Israel’s Ofek think tank, agrees that the trajectory is dire, influenced by the political dynamics within Netanyahu’s coalition. Extreme right-wing lawmakers, led by Smotrich, push for Gaza’s annexation and flattening, threatening Netanyahu to achieve their goals. If the war does not end soon, such extreme measures become more likely.

The Israeli government’s threats of committing atrocities against Palestinian civilians are real and must be taken seriously. While not inevitable, the worst-case scenarios can still be averted. America’s role is pivotal. Israel’s reliance on U.S. weapons and political backing provides leverage for American presidents. Trump, though indifferent to Palestinian suffering, is not an ideological hardliner. Public perception matters to him, and sustained American outrage could potentially influence his actions.

Recent polls indicate a decline in American interest in the Israel-Hamas war, with search volumes for ‘Gaza’ at an all-time low. This pattern of waning public attention to foreign conflicts is concerning, especially given the high stakes in Gaza. The coming days and weeks could determine the future of Palestinian life in Gaza. Americans, while not controlling Israeli or U.S. government actions, have the power to express moral outrage. This moment demands renewed public attention and action to prevent further atrocities.