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Israel’s security cabinet has approved a new plan from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to carry out a full military occupation of Gaza City, the largest city in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. This marks a serious escalation in Israel’s ongoing war in the Palestinian territory.
According to a statement released early Friday from Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli military is preparing to take control of Gaza City while allowing humanitarian aid to reach civilians outside combat areas.
Two Israeli government sources told Reuters that before the plan can move forward, it must be approved by the full government cabinet. That meeting may not take place until Sunday.
The plan could lead to the forced removal of tens of thousands of Palestinians still living in Gaza City. Many of these people are already suffering due to extreme hunger and famine, worsened by ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the region.
Barak Ravid, a reporter for Axios, was the first to report on the plan. He quoted an unnamed Israeli official who said that all civilians in Gaza City would be forced to leave by October 7. They would be sent to central camps or other areas. At the same time, Israeli forces would impose a siege on Hamas fighters believed to still be inside the city and carry out a ground offensive.
This follows recent comments by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has said Israel plans to take control of the entire Gaza Strip. In a television interview with Fox News, he said, “We don’t want to govern Gaza, but we do want to control it for security reasons.”
He added that once Israel takes control, the area would eventually be handed over to a third party. However, he did not give details on who that would be.
While Israeli officials argue that this is necessary to defeat Hamas, the move is likely to make life even harder for Gaza’s already suffering population. Gaza’s people are facing famine, destroyed homes, and very little access to food or medical supplies. A major ground assault in Gaza City could cause further displacement and interrupt already limited aid efforts. So far, nearly 200 people have reportedly died of starvation and malnutrition.
Before the war began in October 2023, Gaza City was home to hundreds of thousands of people. When Israel began its military operation, many residents fled after the military ordered evacuations. But some later returned during a brief ceasefire at the beginning of 2024.
Now, with the threat of a new ground offensive, thousands more could be forced to leave once again—this time with even fewer resources and nowhere safe to go.
Israel’s move to fully occupy Gaza has been expected for some time. Netanyahu’s recent statements, combined with growing political support within Israel, signal that the military operation could begin very soon.
In the U.S., former President Donald Trump has also indicated support for Israel’s actions. He recently said that it’s up to Israel to decide how to handle the war.
On the ground in Gaza, residents are bracing for the worst. “There is nothing left to occupy,” said Maysaa al-Heila, a Gaza resident, in an interview with the Associated Press. “There is no Gaza left.”
As of now, more than 61,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, and the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen with no end in sight.