Tel Aviv: Israel’s security cabinet has approved a controversial plan put forward by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy Gaza City and take full military control of the enclave, reports CNN.
The decision, reportedly made during a marathon overnight meeting, signals a major escalation in Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas.
The move comes despite mounting domestic unrest. Protests broke out across several Israeli cities, including outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, where families of hostages held in Gaza demanded an end to the war and accused the government of putting their loved ones at greater risk. Demonstrators also attempted a symbolic flotilla toward Gaza in a bid to pressure authorities, reports CNN.
Military officials have reportedly expressed caution over the proposal, with warnings that a full reoccupation of Gaza could entangle Israeli forces in prolonged urban warfare and jeopardise efforts to secure the release of remaining hostages, reports CNN.
According to sources familiar with the plan, as reported by CNN, the Israeli military intends to push civilians from Gaza City toward designated evacuation zones in the south. Plans include the construction of additional humanitarian aid distribution centres to accommodate the displaced population, with the number of aid points expected to rise significantly.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The United Nations has reported a surge in acute malnutrition among children, with nearly 12,000 under the age of five affected in July alone. Access to food and medical supplies remains critically limited, with only sporadic aid deliveries reaching the enclave.
Israel previously occupied Gaza following its capture in the 1967 war, before unilaterally withdrawing in 2005. However, since renewed hostilities with Hamas erupted in 2023, Israeli forces have gradually regained control over large parts of the territory. The question remains, will this lead to a long-term military presence in Gaza, even as questions remain about post-conflict governance and the fate of over a million displaced residents?
