A former head of the Israeli national security council has called for a siege on northern Gaza, with civilians given 10 days to leave and those who stay designated as combatants. The retired general argues that a siege is a practical measure to force surrender or starvation, as using regular military tactics would result in the deaths of thousands of civilians. However, this proposal has been criticized as illegal under international law, with concerns raised about the forcible displacement of civilians. Israel's military has denied planning a siege and stated their focus is on removing civilians from harm's way while targeting terror cells.