JERUSALEM. Israel’s political-security cabinet has approved a military plan to take control of Gaza City, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The decision follows Netanyahu’s public declaration that Israel intends to assume full military control of the entire Gaza Strip, despite rising domestic and international criticism over the nearly two-year-long war
“The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. Gaza City is the largest urban center in the Palestinian enclave and a key stronghold of Hamas.
According to a report by Axios, citing an Israeli official, the plan includes the evacuation of civilians from Gaza City and a renewed ground offensive. Evacuation warnings are likely to be issued in phases, potentially giving residents several weeks to relocate before the military advances.
Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said Israel does not intend to permanently govern Gaza but seeks to establish a security perimeter. He stated the territory could eventually be handed over to Arab forces, although he did not specify which countries might participate or what kind of governance structure would be established.
Netanyahu’s remarks came ahead of a high-level meeting with senior ministers to discuss expanding military operations. Some Israeli officials noted growing tensions within the government, particularly between Netanyahu and military chief Eyal Zamir, who has expressed hesitation over broadening the campaign.
The Prime Minister’s Office added that most cabinet members rejected an alternative plan presented during the meeting, stating it would neither defeat Hamas nor lead to the return of Israeli hostages.
Any resolution passed by the political-security cabinet would still need approval from the full cabinet, which may not convene until Sunday, according to two government sources.
The operation, if fully implemented, would reverse Israel’s 2005 disengagement from Gaza, in which it withdrew all citizens and soldiers while maintaining control over borders and key utilities. Right-wing factions in Israel have long blamed the withdrawal for enabling Hamas’s rise to power after winning the 2006 elections.
Hamas responded by calling Netanyahu’s remarks “a blatant coup” against ongoing negotiations, accusing him of endangering hostages for political purposes. Hamas official Osama Hamdan warned that any external force attempting to govern Gaza would be treated as an occupying body aligned with Israel.
Arab nations have so far declined involvement, with a Jordanian official telling Reuters that any postwar governance should be led by legitimate Palestinian institutions and approved by the Palestinian people.
An earlier proposal backed by Egypt and several Arab states, which would have installed a technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, a was rejected by both Israel and the United States.
As protests grow in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel, many citizens are urging the government to secure a deal for the hostages and end the conflict. Demonstrators gathered near the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday night, holding photos of the captives and expressing frustration at the government’s handling of the war.
“I’m here because I am sick and tired of this government. It’s ruined our life,” said Noa Starkman, a resident of southern Israel who lost friends in the October 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war.
The Hostages Families Forum has appealed to the military leadership to resist any expansion of combat, prioritizing the safe return of those still held in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the United Nations described the potential escalation of military operations in Gaza as “deeply alarming.” The White House has not issued a formal statement, and President Donald Trump has declined to say whether he supports a full Israeli military takeover of Gaza.
Israel maintains that the war will continue until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
