In a significant escalation of its military operation, Israel’s security cabinet has authorized a wide-ranging plan to take over the entire Gaza Strip and stay there for an indefinite time, the Associated Press reported, quoting two Israeli officials. The plan, if implemented, would potentially significantly increase Israel’s military presence in the region, exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the war-torn Palestinian enclave.
The cabinet voted at a late-night session on Monday, several hours after the head of the Israeli military had declared the mobilization of tens of thousands of reservists. The move is the latest phase of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy to exert pressure on Hamas to free hostages and agree to a ceasefire on Israeli terms.
Under the plan, according to officials who were quoted by AP, Israel will be assisted in attaining its key war goal: defeating Hamas. It also entails forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into southern Gaza. “The plan also included powerful strikes against Hamas targets,” one of the officials said, and added that its execution would be phased.
Gaza Prepares for Broader War
Since the collapse of an American-brokered ceasefire agreement in mid-March, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have conducted intensified airstrikes and ground raids throughout Gaza, killing hundreds, according to reports, and capturing vast amounts of territory. As of today, Israeli forces control an estimated 50 percent of the Gaza Strip.
Even before the truce collapsed, Israel had ceased the delivery of humanitarian aid—food, fuel, and water—into Gaza. This blockade has added to what is universally regarded as the most acute humanitarian crisis in the almost 19-month war.
The recently approved military plan also includes, according to reports, measures to block Hamas from dispersing humanitarian aid. Israeli officials say that this distribution network fortifies Hamas’s rule. “The plan included the takeover of the strip and the occupation of territories,” the officials stated. They also claimed that Hamas has stockpiled aid to finance its military apparatus.
International Backlash Over Emigration Plan
The AP news stated that Israel is negotiating with several nations over a contentious proposal once proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The plan is to resettle Gaza’s population through what Israel calls “voluntary emigration.” The concept has attracted severe criticism from influential allies in Europe and the Arab world.
Even with Israel’s heightened military pressure, Hamas has not changed its negotiating position. As international mediators persist in their efforts, negotiations remain at a standstill. Israel maintains that it will not stop the war until Hamas is destroyed, while Hamas is calling for a ceasefire that would end the conflict altogether.
The earlier ceasefire agreement, which was meant to pave the way toward a permanent resolution, has failed to bring significant progress in the negotiations. While both sides insist on mutually contradictory objectives, aspirations for a negotiated solution remain distant, with increasing tensions in the region.
