Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial push to expand military operations in Gaza — with the stated aim of a full “takeover of Gaza City” — has sparked sharp warnings from military leadership, resistance from hostage families, and growing concern both at home and abroad over a potential humanitarian catastrophe.
The Israeli security cabinet approved the new phase of the offensive during a 10-hour meeting, signalling Netanyahu’s intent for the Israeli military to assume full control of the Gaza Strip. While the official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office avoided using the term “occupation,” many observers argue that this is precisely what the plan entails.
The proposed operation could take months and would require the mobilization of thousands of reservists, many of whom are already fatigued after multiple deployments. It would also necessitate the forced evacuation of around 800,000 Palestinians — many of whom have been displaced repeatedly since the war began.
The plan has met strong resistance from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), most notably from IDF Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir. According to reports in the Israeli media, Zamir warned Netanyahu that a full occupation of Gaza would be “tantamount to walking into a trap” and could jeopardize the lives of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
These concerns are echoed by the families of the remaining 50 hostages, of whom only 20 are believed to still be alive.
“The only way to guarantee their release is through a negotiated deal and ending the war,” said a representative of the hostages’ families, pointing to fears that a wider assault could lead to their deaths — either at the hands of Hamas or through Israeli fire.
According to a report in the Maariv newspaper, “the prevailing assessment is that most and possibly all of the living hostages will die” if a full-scale offensive resumes.
While the military and much of the public lean toward a negotiated settlement, Netanyahu is seen by many in Israel as prolonging the conflict to preserve his fragile governing coalition. Analysts suggest the threat of a full occupation is intended to pressure Hamas into returning to ceasefire talks — but may also serve domestic political goals.
The prime minister relies heavily on the support of ultranationalist ministers, such as Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have openly advocated for what they term the “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza — a move widely condemned as forced displacement, potentially constituting a war crime under international law.
The announcement has been met with swift criticism from global leaders. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the decision “wrong” and urged Israel to “reconsider it immediately.”
“This strategy will only lead to further bloodshed and isolation,” Starmer warned.
More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The conflict erupted following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages to Gaza.
Despite mounting international pressure, Netanyahu appears undeterred. In an interview with *Fox News* ahead of the cabinet meeting, he confirmed Israel’s intention to take full control of Gaza.
“We don’t want to govern it,” Netanyahu said. “We don’t want to be there as a governing body. We want to hand it over to Arab forces.”
However, he offered no specifics on which Arab nations might be involved in such a handover, nor has he articulated a coherent post-war vision for Gaza. His government continues to reject any governing role for the Palestinian Authority, which currently oversees the West Bank and recognizes Israel.
Netanyahu’s vague comments on transferring control of Gaza to unnamed Arab forces mark one of the few indications of his post-war thinking. But critics argue that without a viable political plan, continued military escalation will only deepen the humanitarian crisis and widen Israel’s global isolation.
The humanitarian toll in Gaza remains catastrophic. Speaking about the deteriorating conditions, Caroline Willeman, a doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), described the situation as “worsening by the day,” adding that “medical infrastructure is barely functioning, and people are dying not only from violence but from lack of care.”
Despite the growing calls for de-escalation, Netanyahu’s government continues to press forward — raising fears of a prolonged occupation, a higher death toll, and the collapse of any remaining prospects for peace.
Boluwatife Enome
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