JERUSALEM/CAIRO/TEHERAN/ISTANBUL - The Israeli army's planned takeover of Gaza City is expected to take at least six months, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Saturday evening.
Citing senior security sources, the channel detailed the army's timetable following the Security Cabinet's approval of the operation on Friday.
The channel said that in two weeks, the army will begin evacuating more than 800,000 residents of the Strip's largest city to the humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza.
In a month, a reserve division will be recruited to join the five divisions already operating in the Strip, ahead of an intense military operation in Gaza City set to begin in about two months.
As part of the preparations for the ground operation, the Israeli cabinet planned to quadruple the number of aid trucks entering Gaza to 1,200.
The Israeli army's decision to take over Gaza City has drawn condemnation both domestically and internationally, with critics arguing it violates international law, worsens the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and undermines efforts to reach a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, thousands demonstrated in Tel Aviv's "Hostages Square" Saturday evening, calling for an end to the war through an agreement that would secure the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Arab, Islamic blocs slam Israel's plan
Also on Saturday, the ministerial committee mandated by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza, along with 23 countries, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, jointly voiced "strong condemnation and categorical rejection" of Israel's intention to impose full military control over Gaza.
The joint statement, released by the foreign ministries of the countries, including Egypt, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Mauritania, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Somalia, Turkiye, and Gambia, described the Israeli intention as "a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, a flagrant violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli on the ground by force, in contravention of international legitimacy".
The statement warned that the declared Israeli course of action "constitutes a continuation of its grave violations, including killing and starvation, attempts at forced displacement and annexation of Palestinian land, and settler terrorism, which are crimes that may amount to crimes against humanity".
It added that such measures "obliterate any opportunity for peace, undermine regional and international efforts towards de-escalation and peaceful resolution of the conflict, and exacerbate the severe violations against the Palestinian people."
The countries and blocs demanded "the immediate and comprehensive cessation of the Israeli aggression" in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, as well as the "unconditional entry" of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and the freedom of operation for relief agencies.
It also voiced support for mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States "to achieve a ceasefire and reach an agreement for the exchange of prisoners and hostages".
Meanwhile, in a meeting in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also "affirmed their rejection of a military re-occupation of the Gaza Strip" and called for an immediate ceasefire in the enclave, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
Both sides "reiterated the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages and captives", while reaffirming their rejection of the displacement of Palestinians, according to the statement.
On Friday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also strongly condemned Israel's plan to take over Gaza City.
He made the remarks in a statement released by the ministry a few hours after Israel announced on Friday that its Security Cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City.
Baghaei said the plan for the military occupation of Gaza City and forced displacement of its citizens "is a plot to complete the genocide against the Palestinian nation".
He said the "criminal" Israeli leaders' threat to completely occupy Gaza is further a "proof of Israel's specific intent to carry out ethnic cleansing in Gaza and genocide against Palestinians", which should be considered by the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
Rally in Istanbul
Thousands of Turkish protested here on Saturday, denouncing Israeli attacks and blockade in Gaza.
Organized by 15 civil society organizations under the "Support for Palestine Platform," the "Be Hope for Gaza" march gathered participants at Beyazit Square after evening prayers, before marching towards the iconic Hagia Sophia Mosque.
They chanted slogans like "Murderer Israel, get out of Palestine," carried Palestinian flags, and held banners accusing Israel of starving Gaza and demanding accountability.
Separately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which Erdogan condemned Israel's decision to bring Gaza under full military control as "absolutely unacceptable."
According to a statement by the Turkish presidential office, Erdogan reiterated Turkiye's continued diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and its support for Palestine, welcomed European countries' rising call for Palestine's statehood, and noted growing criticism of Israel in the West.
