Israel's security cabinet has approved a major escalation in the Gaza war.
According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli security cabinet has authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for the military occupation of Gaza City in northern Gaza. The takeover plan, announced in a statement early Friday, outlines that the Israeli military "will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones."
Government sources indicate the resolution still requires approval from the full government cabinet, which may not convene until Sunday. The planned occupation represents a significant intensification of Israel's military campaign and would likely force tens of thousands of Gaza residents already facing famine conditions to relocate.
Forced Displacement Concerns Amid Humanitarian Crisis
An unnamed Israeli official quoted by Axios reporter Barak Ravid revealed that the operation will involve forcing "all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City to the central camps and other areas by October 7." The official further detailed that Israeli forces will impose a siege on Hamas militants remaining in Gaza City while conducting a ground offensive.
The occupation plan emerges as Gaza faces catastrophic humanitarian conditions. Reports indicate nearly 200 people have already died from starvation and malnutrition in the territory, where Israel continues restricting humanitarian aid access.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Israel's planned escalation as "wrong," stating that "This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed."
Netanyahu's Statements Signal Broader Intentions
In a Fox News interview preceding the security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu declared Israel would "take control of all Gaza." This statement follows Israeli media reports that the prime minister might soon announce plans to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu clarified that Israel doesn't intend to govern Gaza permanently. "We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it," he stated, suggesting responsibility would eventually transfer to an unspecified third party.
Hamas responded forcefully to Netanyahu's comments, calling them "a blatant reversal of the negotiation process" that "clearly exposes the real motives behind his withdrawal from the last ceasefire round." The group accused Netanyahu of abandoning Israeli captives to "serve his personal interests and extremist ideological agenda."
Strong Opposition From Israeli Political Leaders
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the Gaza City occupation plan as a "disaster that will lead to many more disasters." He warned it would "take months, lead to the death of the hostages, the killing of many soldiers, cost tens of billions to the Israeli taxpayers, and lead to a political collapse."
Lapid argued the plan gives Hamas exactly what it wanted: "for Israel to be trapped in the field without a goal, without defining the picture of the day after, in a useless occupation that no one understands where it is leading."
The occupation decision comes as the death toll in Gaza since October 2023 has exceeded 61,000 Palestinians. Gaza City, once the territory's largest population center, has already experienced mass evacuations, though many residents returned during a brief ceasefire earlier this year.
Local Reaction And International Context
Gaza resident Maysaa al-Heila expressed despair upon hearing about the planned takeover, telling The Associated Press, "There is nothing left to occupy. There is no Gaza left." Her statement reflects the devastating impact of the prolonged conflict on Gaza's infrastructure and civilian life.
The occupation decision comes amid shifting regional dynamics. Al Jazeera correspondent Shihab Rattansi noted the move had been "telegraphed for several days now" and observed that "Donald Trump has all but greenlit whatever Benjamin Netanyahu wants to do."
Military analysts suggest a major ground operation in Gaza City could displace thousands more civilians and further complicate humanitarian aid delivery to a population already experiencing famine conditions. The international community watches closely as this significant escalation unfolds in a conflict that has already caused unprecedented devastation.
