Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, intensifying military operations in the territory’s largest urban area. The decision, announced on Friday, comes despite mounting criticism both inside Israel and abroad over the war that has now lasted almost two years.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition allies have long pushed for a complete takeover of Gaza as part of his pledge to destroy Hamas. Military officials, however, have warned that such an operation could endanger the lives of the remaining hostages held in the city.
Gaza City at the Centre of Fighting
Gaza City, home to around 900,000 people, has been a focal point of Israel’s ground and air operations. Many residents are people who were displaced from northern towns earlier in the conflict. Before the war, Hamas’ strongest fighting units operated in northern Gaza, including Gaza City.
Netanyahu’s office stated that the military will “prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.” The plan focuses on the city itself rather than the entire Gaza Strip, although Netanyahu told Fox News on Thursday that Israel intends to take full military control of the whole territory.
Hostages and Humanitarian Concerns
Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, with officials believing about 20 are still alive. Many Israelis are pressuring the government to prioritise their release, even as the fighting continues. Critics fear that the plan to take control of Gaza City could seal the fate of the captives.
Danny Bukovsky, a hotelier from Tel Aviv, said, “I think it’s a death sentence to all the hostages that are still being held there. And it’s the wrong decision to do it at this time.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, with nearly all of the more than two million residents displaced, and aid groups warning of famine.
A Divisive Political Move
Some analysts say the government is determined to “be more aggressive in carving Gaza’s geography and demographics” because it has faced no meaningful consequences from the international community. Amjad Iraqi of the International Crisis Group said this approach explains why Israel is moving to take control of Gaza City even during a humanitarian disaster.
Hamas has condemned the decision, calling it “a new war crime” and a blow to any negotiations. Arab states, including Jordan, have stressed that any arrangement for Gaza’s security should be agreed upon by Palestinians themselves.
A Controversial Step Forward
The approval of the plan shows Netanyahu’s government is committed to its military objectives, even as calls grow for an end to the war. By moving to take control of Gaza City, Israel is escalating an already devastating conflict.
