Jerusalem — Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to seize control of Gaza City, escalating its nearly two-year-old military campaign in the Palestinian enclave. The move has triggered sharp criticism both at home and abroad, with opponents warning it could deepen the humanitarian crisis and endanger the lives of Israeli hostages still held by militants.
Mounting International Pressure
Germany, one of Israel’s key European allies, announced it would suspend exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza. Britain urged Israel to reconsider its decision, while Saudi Arabia condemned any move to occupy the territory, reiterating that normalization with Israel remains impossible without the creation of a Palestinian state.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also called on Israel to halt its advance into Gaza City. Meanwhile, Britain, Canada, and France have signaled they could recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next month.
However, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized what he described as misplaced pressure on Israel instead of on Hamas, which launched the deadly 2023 attack that ignited the war. Huckabee said former U.S. President Donald Trump remains adamant that Hamas must be disarmed and removed from power.
Hostage Families Fear for Lives
Inside Israel, the decision has been met with outrage from families of hostages and opposition leaders. They warn that advancing into Gaza City could be a “death sentence” for the remaining captives.
“There are 50 hostages still in Gaza—only 20 are believed to be alive,” said the Hostages Families Forum in a statement. “This decision abandons them, while ignoring the overwhelming public support for ending the war through a deal to bring them home.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the plan “a disaster,” accusing far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich of pushing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a prolonged conflict against military and security advice.
Strategic Stakes in Gaza City
According to the Israeli military, it already controls around 75% of the Gaza Strip. Retired brigadier general Amir Avivi estimates that capturing Gaza City would extend control to roughly 85% of the territory.
“Gaza City is the heart of Gaza, the center of government, and the symbolic stronghold of Hamas,” Avivi said. “Its fall would be a game changer.”
Israeli media report that about 900,000 people now reside in Gaza City, including large numbers displaced from other parts of the strip. Before the war, Hamas’s most powerful units operated in northern Gaza, including Gaza City.
Netanyahu’s Position
In a recent Fox News interview, Netanyahu said Israel does not intend to permanently occupy Gaza but aims to create a “security perimeter” before handing control to Arab forces. Nonetheless, the statement from his office on Friday confirmed the goal of taking Gaza City, without clarifying whether the rest of the enclave would also be occupied.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said the war will not end until Hamas is disarmed. Opinion polls, however, suggest most Israelis want an immediate diplomatic agreement that would secure the release of hostages.
A Return to Pre-2005 Occupation?
Full occupation of Gaza would reverse Israel’s 2005 withdrawal of settlers and forces, a move that ended its permanent ground presence while maintaining control of borders, airspace, and utilities.
Critics warn that such a step could drag Israel into a costly, open-ended conflict. Supporters within Netanyahu’s coalition, especially far-right members, argue that only a complete takeover will fulfill the government’s pledge to eradicate Hamas.
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