Israel's desk-drawer plan for a full-scale invasion of Gaza includes a request to the United Nations concerning how long it would take the international body to open up "humanitarian corridors" to Egypt. An unnamed Israeli official told Reuters News Agency that the request to the U.N. was part of "contingency planning" in the event that the government gives the IDF the go-ahead to invade Gaza.
Army troops the past several weeks have entered Gaza on search and destroy missions, which have been followed by a rapid withdrawal. A large-scale invasion would likely result in the closure of all borders with Gaza. Israel asked the U.N. if it is possible to open corridors between Gaza and the Egyptian city of El Arish, located almost 20 miles south of the border city of Rafiah.