Connecting all these dots leads to a fairly clear conclusion: Israel is preparing to forcibly displace the entire population of Gaza — through a combination of evacuation orders and intense bombardment — into an enclosed and possibly fenced-off area. Anyone caught outside its boundaries would be killed, and buildings throughout the rest of the enclave would likely be razed to the ground.

Without mincing words, this “humanitarian zone,” as Magal so kindly put it, in which the army intends to corral Gaza’s 2 million residents, can be summed up in just two words: concentration camp. This is not hyperbole; it is simply the most precise definition to help us better understand what we are facing.

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It remains to be seen whether the military — or even the government — is willing to go all the way on such a plan. It would almost certainly lead to the deaths of all the hostages, carrying the potential for major political fallout. Moreover, it would be fiercely resisted by Hamas, which has not lost its military capabilities and could inflict heavy losses on the army, as it did in northern Gaza right up until the final days before the ceasefire.

Other obstacles to such a plan include the exhaustion of Israeli army reservists, with growing concerns about both “silent” and public refusal to serve; the civil unrest being generated by the government’s aggressive efforts to weaken the judiciary will only intensify this phenomenon. It is also firmly opposed (at least for now) by both Egypt and Jordan, whose governments could go as far as suspending or canceling their peace agreements with Israel. Finally, there’s the unpredictable nature of Donald Trump, who one day threatens to “open the gates of hell” on Hamas and the next sends envoys to negotiate with the group directly, calling them “pretty nice guys.”

At present, the [IOF are] continuing to pummel Gaza with airstrikes and seize more territory around the Strip’s perimeter. Israel’s declared goal in its renewed assault is to pressure Hamas into extending phase one of the deal, meaning the release of hostages without committing to ending the war. Hamas, aware of Israel’s strategic limitations, refuses to budge from its position: any hostage deal must be tied to ending the war. Meanwhile, Zamir, who is perhaps genuinely fearful that he won’t have an army left to conquer Gaza, has remained conspicuously quiet, avoiding substantive statements about the military’s intentions.