Washington – Following the approval by the Israeli mini-cabinet (the War Cabinet) of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan—who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza—to seize full control of the Gaza Strip and transfer authority from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to an Arab administration, many opposing and cautious voices have emerged within Washington regarding this vision.
The decision to officially occupy Gaza City in the coming weeks represents a critical turning point. Many American experts fear that Israel may not succeed in its endeavor, forcing it into difficult choices it had previously tried to avoid. Some believe Israel is taking significant military, diplomatic, and political risks.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously gave Tel Aviv the green light to act as it pleases in Gaza, stating in remarks to Axios that “the next step is largely up to Israel.” He emphasized increasing military pressure on Hamas, as he doubted the group would release detainees under the current circumstances.
Alignment
Trump avoided directly endorsing Israel’s newly announced plan to “eliminate Hamas,” including taking control of areas Netanyahu described as the movement’s “last stronghold” in Gaza City.
Osama Khalil, a professor of history and international relations at Syracuse University in New York, believes the Trump administration, like its predecessor under Joe Biden, demands Hamas’ surrender, disarmament, and the exile of its leadership—aligning with Netanyahu’s demands.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Khalil explained that Israel’s goal has remained unchanged for over 22 months: expelling Palestinians from Gaza and annexing territories as part of a broader plan to seize the West Bank.
Netanyahu has insisted that the upcoming offensive does not indicate a permanent occupation and that his forces will not remain in Gaza, adding that Israel “plans to move civilians from the Strip to humanitarian zones.”
The Israeli prime minister outlined what he called the “five principles for ending the war,” which include:
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Destroying Hamas.
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Disarming Gaza.
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Releasing detainees.
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Israeli security control.
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Establishing a non-Israeli, peaceful civilian administration that excludes both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
A Gamble
Khalil argues that the “Greater Israel” project enjoys support from both the Biden and Trump administrations. Otherwise, he says, Israel’s military campaign would have stopped after the first humanitarian truce in December 2023. Instead, the genocide has continued with active participation from the U.S. and its key European allies.
American experts believe Israel aims to pressure and shift Hamas’ strategic calculations to push it into accepting detainee release deals and a temporary ceasefire.
Alex Plitsas, an expert at the Atlantic Council in Washington and former head of sensitive special operations and counterterrorism activities at the U.S. Defense Secretary’s office, sees Tel Aviv’s decision to occupy Gaza City as an ambitious move aimed at accelerating the final phase of a war that cannot easily be concluded.
In an analysis published on the Atlantic Council’s website, he described it as an attempt to force Hamas to the negotiating table, reassert Israel’s strategic dominance, and a gamble requiring overwhelming force, precise planning, and a credible post-war plan.
Without these elements, Plitsas warns, Israel risks swapping one form of conflict for another—from war against Hamas to war against a new brewing resistance.
Losing Support
For his part, Ambassador David Mack, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and now an Atlantic Council expert, believes Israel’s current dominance over Gaza is gradually losing support among the American Jewish community, as well as most major American Christian groups.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mack noted that most members of the latter group want to see an Arab-Israeli compromise ending this horrific conflict, alleviating humanitarian suffering in Gaza, and reducing tensions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
In the same context, prominent pro-Israel thinker Bret Stephens wrote in The New York Times:
“Being pro-Israel means viewing Gaza through the broader lens of its overall interests, which include rehabilitating its international reputation and resuming diplomacy to turn its regional military successes into lasting political gains.”
In his article, he warned that if Netanyahu makes the “catastrophic mistake of attempting a long-term reoccupation of Gaza, no sensible person can be pro-Israel without also being against him.”
Stephens concluded by stating that regardless of what the Israeli prime minister says about his government’s decision to seize Gaza City, the likely outcome would be long-term occupation. If that happens, Tel Aviv risks losing even more of its remaining American supporters.
Despite the occupation army controlling about 75% of Gaza’s territory and conducting intensive operations across the Strip—including targeted incursions into Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Rafah—none of these operations have constituted a long-term reoccupation of major urban centers.
Key Points:
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U.S. stance: Trump and Biden administrations support Israel’s goals but avoid explicit endorsement of full reoccupation.
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Israeli plan: Netanyahu seeks to eliminate Hamas, disarm Gaza, and establish a non-Hamas civilian administration.
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Risks: Experts warn of prolonged conflict, loss of international support, and potential new resistance movements.
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Domestic U.S. opinion: Growing opposition among American Jewish and Christian groups to Israel’s actions.
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Strategic gamble: Israel’s move could backfire, leading to long-term instability.
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