Jerusalem : Israel’s Security Cabinet has given the green light to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s five-point plan to seize military control of Gaza City, a move presented as part of efforts to “disarm” Hamas and bring an end to the ongoing war in the besieged enclave, reported the Al Jazeera.
The decision follows intense anti-government protests across Israel, where demonstrators have demanded an immediate ceasefire and the return of hostages held by Hamas for the past 22 months. Netanyahu’s office stated that a majority of the Security Cabinet ministers rejected an alternative plan, deeming it insufficient to secure the defeat of Hamas or the safe return of captives.
The approved strategy is built on five key principles:
1. Disarming Hamas
2. Returning all hostages
3. Demilitarising Gaza
4. Maintaining Israeli security control in Gaza
5. Establishing a civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority
Under the plan, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will prepare to take control of Gaza City while ensuring humanitarian assistance is distributed to civilians outside combat zones.
The war, launched by Israel after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, has so far claimed an estimated 60,000 lives in Gaza. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with severe shortages of food and medicine. The World Health Organization recently warned of “alarming levels” of malnutrition across the territory.
Speaking to visiting Indian journalists before the Security Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s goal is not to annex or permanently occupy Gaza. “Our plan is not to occupy or annex Gaza. Our goal is to destroy Hamas, get our hostages back, and then hand over Gaza to a transitory government,” he said. He also maintained that Gaza’s security must remain under Israeli control to prevent future threats.
Netanyahu further claimed that over two million tonnes of food had been sent to Gaza but alleged the supplies were “interdicted” before reaching the population.
The decision marks a significant escalation in Israel’s military and political strategy, raising concerns among international observers about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
