Israel approves plan to take control of Gaza City
Israel’s Security Cabinet approved early Friday a plan to take control of Gaza City, marking another escalation in the country’s 22-month war with Hamas.
The decision came after an all-night meeting of the security cabinet following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel planned to retake control over the entire territory and eventually hand it off to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas.
The announcement represents a shift from Netanyahu’s earlier stated intention to seize all of Gaza, possibly reflecting reservations from Israel’s top general who reportedly warned that such an operation would endanger the remaining 20 or so living hostages held by Hamas and further strain Israel’s military after nearly two years of regional wars.
READ ALSO: Israel kills hundreds of crocodiles at abandoned farm without notifying the owner – Gadi Bitan
Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have strongly condemned the Security Cabinet’s decision, fearing it will endanger their loved ones still in captivity. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held hostage, accused Netanyahu of exploiting their pain and sabotaging potential deals for their release.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the move as a “disaster that will lead to many more disasters,” warning it would result in Israel getting “stuck on the ground without a goal.”
International condemnation came swiftly from key allies. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared the decision “wrong” and urged reconsideration, stating it “will only bring more bloodshed.”
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned the operation “will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” while Turkey’s foreign ministry called on the U.N. Security Council to halt what it deemed a violation of international law. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk demanded the plan be “immediately halted,” citing violations of International Court of Justice rulings.
Gaza City, once home to approximately 700,000 people, has already suffered extensive devastation from repeated Israeli bombardments and raids throughout the war. The territory’s health ministry reports that Israel’s offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians since the war began in October 2023.
According to reporting by Axios, the goal of the IDF operation is to evacuate all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City by October 7th. The prime minister’s office said aid would be distributed to civilians outside of combat zones.
READ ALSO: IDF Chief warns Netanyahu over Gaza plan, creating a “trap”
The Security Cabinet adopted five key principles for concluding the war: disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, establishing Israeli security control in Gaza, and creating an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
When asked about possible Israeli plans to occupy all of Gaza, President Trump said the decision was “pretty much up to Israel”.
Speaking to Fox News ahead of the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel doesn’t want to keep Gaza permanently but wants to “hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life”.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
