An Israeli security cabinet has given the green light to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to seize control of Gaza City, a development in the besieged Palestinian region that marks a significant escalation. Although the Prime Minister’s Office hasn’t released a public statement yet, the plan was first unveiled by the news site Axios on Friday. It envisions the Israeli military taking over Gaza City, while also providing humanitarian aid to civilians outside the conflict areas.
Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing an unnamed high-ranking Israeli official, reported that the objective is to evacuate all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City to central camps and other regions by October 7. The remnants of Hamas in Gaza City will be under siege, and a ground military operation will be conducted concurrently, according to Ravid’s report on Twitter. Al Jazeera’s Washington correspondent, Shihab Rattansi, noted that Israel’s intentions to occupy Gaza have been evident for days.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has indicated a willingness to support Netanyahu’s decisions. Earlier this week, Netanyahu stated during a Fox News interview that Israel aims to control all of Gaza but does not intend to remain a governing entity there. He emphasized Israel’s focus on establishing a secure perimeter and transferring control to a third party. Israeli media has also speculated that Netanyahu will soon announce plans for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/8/israeli-security-cabinet-approves-plan-to-occupy-gaza-city-report?traffic_source=rss
