Israel’s Announcement on Gaza City Occupation

On Friday, Israel declared its occupation of Gaza City amid an ongoing 22-month conflict with Hamas, despite increasing warnings about potential escalation. “The security cabinet has approved the Prime Minister’s proposal for Hamas’ defeat,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated. “The IDF is set to prepare for the city of Gaza, with a commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to civilians outside of the combat zone.”

After a majority vote, the Prime Minister’s Office shared that the security cabinet adopted five guiding principles to bring an end to the conflict with Hamas, as has been reported.

In a recent interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained, “Israel will control everything in Gaza, but we don’t want to keep it.” This indicates a complex stance on governance following military actions.

“We don’t intend to act as a governing entity. Our goal is to hand it over to Arab forces that can manage the situation effectively, but I don’t think that will lead to a good quality of life for Gazans. Hamas makes that impossible,” he added.

Netanyahu also mentioned that he hasn’t talked with former President Donald Trump regarding the invasion of Gaza. He clarified, “He understands it’s our fight, not an American soldier’s.” When pressed about Trump’s support, Netanyahu noted, “Well, he says, ‘I see what Israel is trying to achieve,’ but we’re not focused on that conversation right now.”

In response, Hamas accused Netanyahu of undermining their ceasefire agreement, as stated on Fox. “Netanyahu’s remarks signify a clear setback in the negotiation process when we were nearing a final agreement,” Hamas claimed.

They further criticized Netanyahu, stating, “He seems intent on escalating tensions, putting our prisoners at risk to serve his political agenda,” reflecting deep frustration with the shifting dynamics of the conflict.

Reports from Israeli media indicate that during a closed-door security cabinet meeting, military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir cautioned against occupying Gaza, mentioning risks to hostages and added pressure on military troops nearly two years into the conflict.

According to reports, Netanyahu has been concerned about securing the remaining hostages and has so far chosen not to engage directly with Hamas. The Hostage Family Forum expressed their worries, stating, “Escalating combat could be fatal for our loved ones, and the risk of losing them is very real.” Currently, around 120 hostages are believed to still be held in Gaza.