Israel’s military plans to extend its operations into Gaza City, the epicenter of the Gaza Strip, with the intention of taking control of the remaining areas not yet under Israeli occupation.
Israel’s Security Cabinet endorsed a proposal early Friday for the military to broaden its campaign in Gaza, aiming to take over Gaza City, one of the last areas in the territory not fully occupied by Israeli forces. The decision, made during a meeting that stretched late into the night, outlines steps for eventually exerting control over all of Gaza.
The announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office comes nearly two years into a conflict characterized by Israeli airstrikes and attacks, which have led to the deaths of at least 61,000 Palestinians, including a significant number of children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Despite extensive destruction due to airstrikes and raids, Gaza City remains a crucial location within Gaza. It hosts several partially functioning hospitals, a church sheltering minority Christians, and tent encampments for tens of thousands of displaced individuals. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office carefully avoided labeling this takeover as an occupation, the United Nations states that nearly 90% of Gaza is already under military control, designated as off-limits to Palestinians.
Israeli forces are present in eastern Gaza City, operating amidst almost continuous airstrikes. The strategy for advancing further into densely populated regions, or the possible destinations for those displaced by the conflict, remains unclear as the region faces a U.N.-acknowledged famine.
Netanyahu’s Office mentioned plans to distribute aid outside combat zones, though details were sparse. In response, Hamas warned that Israel’s attempt to capture Gaza City “will cost it a heavy price,” asserting the resilience of Gaza’s people and their resistance against defeat.
The families of Israelis taken hostage by militants in Gaza are urgently calling for a ceasefire, fearing that military actions could endanger their loved ones. Einav Zangauker, whose son, Matan, remains a hostage, expressed that Netanyahu had assured her of a resolution, but she felt betrayed, describing his assurances as deceptive.
Echoing the concerns, opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the decision, calling it a “disaster” that would create further chaos, aligning with what he perceives as Hamas’s strategy to entangle Israel in an unending conflict.
Public opinion within Israel is split over the continuation of the war, with major protests emerging in Tel Aviv demanding a ceasefire. Additionally, hundreds of former Israeli generals and security figures urged the U.S. President to intervene and stop the war, suggesting that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat after its deadly attack in October 2023.
While Netanyahu faces mounting global calls to end the conflict and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, he has resisted. Asked about Israel’s potential occupation of all Gaza, President Trump indicated the decision was largely Israel’s to make.
Israel’s Security Cabinet set forth five conditions for ending the war: disarming Hamas, the release of roughly 50 hostages, disarming the territory, establishing Israeli security oversight, and forming a civil administration neither led by Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
Details about the implementation of these conditions are still unclear. An alternative military strategy for Gaza proposed and rejected by the Security Cabinet included the viewpoints of two far-right ministers advocating for the comprehensive expulsion of Palestinians.
Individuals in Gaza, like 38-year-old Mahmoud Abdel Salam Ahmed, are already preparing for further displacement upon hearing the new developments, despite the challenging conditions. Others, such as 32-year-old Mohaneb Yahya al-Sahhar, question the feasibility of Israel’s plans, emphasizing Gazans’ tenacity in the face of adversity.
Ali al-Hanafi Abu Hassan, once a resident of Gaza City, finds it impossible to endure another evacuation after losing his home and two children. Abbas, the Palestinian Authority President, condemned Israel’s decision, labeling it a continuation of violence and a breach of international law.
Internationally, Israel’s decision has sparked criticism. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the government’s decision to seize control of Gaza City as “wrong,” prompting calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian relief. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Germany’s cessation of military exports for use in Gaza, demanding comprehensive access for aid groups.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Israel to consider the humanitarian implications, proposing a two-state solution for peace based on recognized borders. Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur, and Volker Türk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, also criticized the decision, highlighting international legal concerns.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry called out the Security Council to act against what it perceives as an unlawful action by Israel, aimed at making Gaza unlivable.
According to NPR, Anas Baba contributed to the report from Gaza City.