Israel’s security cabinet has approved a broad new military offensive aimed at the full reoccupation of Gaza, starting with the ruins of Gaza City and ultimately leading to the establishment of a civilian administration over the entire enclave.
After a marathon overnight session, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right cabinet overruled alternative military options, following weeks of intense public debate and internal disagreements. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will now prepare to take control of Gaza City while “providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside combat zones,” according to an official cabinet statement released early Friday.
The decision calls for Israeli security control over Gaza and the eventual creation of a civilian administration excluding both Hamas, the militant group ruling Gaza since 2007, and the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank and is considered the internationally recognized Palestinian leadership.
This move marks a major escalation in the conflict, now entering its 22nd month since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and left 250 people hostage. It paves the way for Israel to regain effective control over all territories between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, echoing the situation following the 1967 war.
The Israeli military reportedly opposed the cabinet’s decision, cautioning that a deeper ground operation would strain an already exhausted army, necessitate a large call-up of reserves, and force the evacuation of up to one million Palestinian civilians. Military officials also warned that the offensive could jeopardize the lives of hostages held by Hamas, as well as complicate efforts to retrieve the bodies of others.
Hamas condemned the announcement, accusing Netanyahu of undermining ongoing hostage negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. These talks aimed at securing a ceasefire, resuming humanitarian aid, releasing Palestinian prisoners, and reaching an eventual truce.
In an interview with Fox News ahead of the vote, Netanyahu declined to specify how long Israel would occupy Gaza. He suggested the possibility of handing control over to an unspecified “Arab” force, saying, “We don’t want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter, we don’t want to govern it.”
Observers view the prime minister’s plan as a strategic attempt to pressure Hamas into concessions over the hostage situation while satisfying the demands of far-right ministers within his coalition.
The war has resulted in devastating casualties, with local health officials reporting at least 60,000 Palestinians killed, many of whom are women and children.
