Israel’s Security Cabinet Ponders Full Reoccupation of Gaza: A Potential Major Escalation of the Conflict

Israel’s security cabinet is convening to discuss a full military takeover of Gaza, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict that has persisted for nearly two years. Despite international pressure and domestic concerns about endangering hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has advocated for complete control over the besieged enclave.

In an interview with Fox News prior to the security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu was questioned about Israel’s intentions regarding Gaza. He responded, “We aim to.” Citing the objective of eliminating Hamas in Gaza and transferring governance to a non-Hamas civilian authority, he further explained.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu’s stance, stating it represents an invitation for more war, casualties, media censorship, and massive financial expenditure on the ideological agendas of far-right ministers like Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Protests were organized by families of the approximately 50 hostages still in Gaza, urging the government to abandon the plan. The proposed operation could necessitate the evacuation of up to a million Palestinians from Gaza City and other areas into designated southern Gaza zones, according to an Israeli official familiar with the proposal. To accommodate this displacement, the military would establish large-scale refugee camps.

As part of the plan, the number of aid distribution centers operated by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) could increase from four to 16 sites, the official disclosed.

Netanyahu has yet to provide a comprehensive vision for Gaza’s future governance. In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, he hinted at the possibility of involving Arab forces to manage the region effectively and improve the quality of life for Gazans, without posing a threat to Israel.

The operation, intended to exert pressure on Hamas and secure the release of remaining captives, could be temporarily halted if Hamas returns to negotiations, according to the official. The most recent round of talks, which began optimistically, collapsed two weeks ago due to the withdrawal of US and Israeli delegations from Qatar.

Hamas expressed concern over Netanyahu’s statement ahead of the security cabinet meeting, characterizing it as a “reversal” of the negotiation process. In a statement, Hamas asserted that Netanyahu’s desire to intensify aggression demonstrates his intention to sacrifice hostages for personal gain and extremist ideological objectives.

US President Donald Trump suggested Israel had autonomy over whether to occupy all of Gaza during a Tuesday interview, thereby implicitly endorsing Netanyahu’s approach.

The Israeli military currently maintains control over approximately 75% of Gaza following 22 months of war that have left the territory devastated and precipitated a humanitarian crisis. If implemented, the expanded operation would aim to encircle and potentially enter the remaining uncontrolled areas in Gaza to neutralize Hamas. Such an action could impose legal responsibility for the welfare of Palestinians in Gaza, which is currently grappling with a food scarcity crisis.

However, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir cautioned Netanyahu during a Tuesday meeting that occupying all of Gaza could trap the military within the enclave and jeopardize the safety of remaining hostages, according to sources speaking with CNN.

In a public acknowledgement of the disagreement between Israel’s military and political leadership, Zamir emphasized on Thursday, “The culture of debate is an integral aspect of Jewish history. We will continue to voice our opinions professionally, independently, and substantively.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich celebrated Israel’s military operations in Gaza as a means to re-establish Jewish settlements in the territory. Visiting the restored settlement of Sa-Nur in the occupied West Bank, Smotrich stated that one day, Israel would return to every place it was expelled from, including Gaza and the biblical region of Samaria.

Public opinion polls consistently indicate a majority of Israelis favor an end to the conflict in exchange for the release of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza.

Families of the hostages still in Gaza condemned the government’s plan for expanding the conflict, with Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod remains captive, stating, “Netanyahu is working against the hostages.” On Thursday, Cohen and other family members sailed towards Gaza’s maritime border, calling for an end to the war.

As the flotilla set sail from the port of Ashkelon in southern Israel, Lior Horev from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum informed CNN that the voyage represented an emergency appeal. “The cabinet’s decision to prolong the conflict will be a death sentence for those still alive and will make it impossible to recover those who have been killed by Hamas and are still being held in Gaza,” Horev said.

The forum announced plans for a protest outside the venue of the security cabinet meeting in Jerusalem to express opposition to an expanded conflict.

Meanwhile, in Kibbutz Nir Oz—a community in southern Israel that was attacked by Hamas fighters on October 7, 2023, resulting in one in four members either being killed or kidnapped—reconstruction efforts were temporarily halted in protest of Netanyahu’s plan.

“The Cabinet is now deliberating over a future doomed to be eternally condemned,” representatives from Kibbutz Nir Oz stated.