Israel’s security cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for the gradual military takeover of the entire Gaza Strip, a move that goes against the advice of the IDF and risks prolonging the nearly two-year war.
The decision, reached after ten hours of deliberations, was announced in a pre-dawn statement today that outlined preparations to seize Gaza City first. The next phase would see Israeli forces push into central areas where Hamas is believed to be holding hostages, and where the army has so far avoided major operations.
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The government said that the objective was a decisive victory over Hamas, which led the October 7, 2023 assault on Israel that triggered the conflict.
The plan includes humanitarian aid for civilians “outside combat zones” and sets out five principles for ending the war: Hamas’ disarmament, the return of hostages, Gaza’s demilitarisation, continued Israeli security control, and the creation of a civil administration neither run by Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu’s proposal was approved despite growing international concerns over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and significant domestic opposition. The military will now mobilise reserves, reposition troops for the assault, and oversee the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from combat areas.
Some analysts suggest that the offensive may be intended as leverage in stalled ceasefire talks. US and Israeli officials have discussed an “all-or-nothing” deal under which Hamas would release all hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a formal end to the war. Without such an agreement, Israel would press ahead with its campaign.
The Israeli military claims to control 75 per cent of Gaza. The remainder—from Gaza City in the north to Khan Younis in the south—houses many of the enclave’s 20 lakh residents, including large numbers displaced into tents and temporary shelters.
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In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu had earlier insisted on seizing all of Gaza, rejecting military warnings about risks to hostages and civilians.
He said the move would guarantee Israel’s security, remove Hamas from power, and allow governance to be transferred to “another party”, possibly Arab forces. Hamas condemned his comments as proof of his real motives and a reversal in negotiations.
Internal tensions in Israel
The decision has heightened tensions between Netanyahu and the military.
Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir opposes the plan, citing the exhaustion of reservists, equipment readiness and the burden of administering millions of Palestinians. Military leaders prefer a new ceasefire to further escalation, arguing it could protect hostages and prevent wider destabilisation.
This is the most serious clash between Netanyahu and the army since Zamir’s appointment in February. While some government allies have criticised him, Zamir defended the Israel Defence Forces’ “culture of debate” and said that the commanders would continue to voice opinions freely, though decisions ultimately rested with political leaders.
Military assessments suggest that the remaining parts of Gaza could be seized in a number of months, but establishing a West Bank-style security regime could take up to five years, with two years of sustained combat for full occupation. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the plan a poor operational, moral and economic choice, while hostage families fear that the offensive could endanger their loved ones.
