In a notably long meeting, Israel's security cabinet has sanctioned a sizeable military operation for the immediate occupation of Gaza City, spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Axios reports.
The decision aims for a broader initiative to potentially control the entire Gaza Strip, sparking widespread debate on its impacts.
The cabinet’s approval follows a strenuous 10-hour discussion, endorsing Netanyahu's proposal. This plan tentatively outlines a full-scale occupation extending beyond Gaza City to cover the entire Gaza Strip.
As reported, the operation stipulates issuing eviction notices to about 1 million Palestinians residing in and near Gaza City. The objective, as stated by Netanyahu, is to dismantle Hamas' stronghold and establish a temporary security zone in the area.
According to a senior Israeli official, Palestinian civilians will have until October to relocate to designated safety zones to avoid the impending military incursion and siege targeted at Hamas militants. This is intended as a precursor to a fuller ground assault, specifically within city limits.
The strategic decision has not been influenced by external political pressures, with President Donald Trump explicitly deferring to Israel to chart its course on addressing security concerns in Gaza.
Despite unanimous approval to initiate the plan, the proposal received mixed reactions from within Netanyahu's cabinet. Ultranationalist ministers, including Itamar Ben-Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich, expressed stark opposition, advocating different approaches to the operation.
Ben-Gvir criticized the plan regarding humanitarian aid delivery, which aims to mitigate civilian suffering during military actions. On a different note, Smotrich pushed for more definitive commitments that the operation would not be halted for peace negotiations.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir shared his reservations over the risks involved, particularly concerning the safety of hostages and the broader implications of establishing Israeli military governance over Gaza.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declared that the ultimate five principles guiding the cessation of hostilities include disarming Hamas, the secure return of all hostages, full demilitarization of Gaza, maintaining Israeli security oversight, and establishing an effective civilian governance system post-conflict.
"The security cabinet approved the prime minister's proposal to defeat Hamas. The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones," an official statement from the office said.
Netanyahu, in an interview with Fox News, explained the broader vision: "We intend to control all of Gaza. We don't want to keep Gaza. We want a security perimeter. We want to hand Gaza over to Arab forces that will govern Gaza properly."
The expected displacement of a million Palestinians stands as one of the largest human consequences of the operation. This move has raised numerous alarms among international humanitarian organizations concerned about the escalating crisis.
Beyond the immediate military goals, the broader repercussions for regional stability and peace negotiations remain uncertain. Experts suggest that the way this operation is handled could set a precedent for future engagements in the region.
The definitive impacts of this decision could unfold over the coming weeks as the Israeli military begins to implement its ground strategy in Gaza, testing the resilience of both military strategy and international diplomacy.
