Jerusalem, May 6 — Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved a phased plan to reoccupy the Gaza Strip, nearly two decades after its unilateral withdrawal from the Palestinian territory in 2005, officials said on Sunday. The decision, taken late on May 4, is expected to be implemented after U.S. President Donald Trump concludes a visit to the region next week. No detailed timeline or operational specifics have yet been made public.
Israel first occupied Gaza during the 1967 Six-Day War, when it also captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. While Israel withdrew from Sinai in 1982 and from Gaza in 2005, it maintained control over Gaza’s borders, airspace, and maritime access, a level of control that has led the United Nations to continue designating Gaza as occupied territory.
The 2005 disengagement, spearheaded by then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, involved the evacuation of all Israeli settlers and troops from Gaza. The move followed years of deadly clashes with Palestinian factions, particularly Hamas, and came amid growing domestic and international pressure over the sustainability and morality of Israel’s occupation.
Israel’s renewed focus on Gaza comes in the wake of escalating tensions and violence, particularly since October 2023. Officials have described the new plan as a strategic shift aimed at long-term security, though critics warn it could reignite a protracted and costly conflict.
Historical Context
The roots of Israel’s involvement in Gaza stretch back to 1948, when the creation of the Jewish state displaced over 750,000 Palestinians. Following armistice agreements in 1949, Gaza came under Egyptian control until Israel’s 1967 military victory. The occupation saw the construction of more than 20 Israeli settlements and significant displacement of Palestinians.
In 1987, growing discontent sparked the First Intifada, a six-year Palestinian uprising that left more than 1,000 Palestinians and around 100 Israelis dead. It ended with the 1993 Oslo Accords, which granted limited autonomy to Palestinians and established the Palestinian Authority. However, the deal was opposed by Hamas and undermined by continued Israeli settlement expansion.
The collapse of peace efforts and a controversial visit by then-opposition leader Sharon to Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound helped ignite the Second Intifada in 2000, leading to another wave of violence. By 2005, facing both military and political pressures, Israel opted to pull out of Gaza unilaterally.
Despite the withdrawal, critics argue that Israel never relinquished true control, given its restrictions on movement of people and goods into the enclave. The UN and international human rights groups have consistently described Gaza as remaining under Israeli occupation.
Future Uncertain
The reoccupation plan raises questions about Israel’s endgame in Gaza and the future of Palestinian self-rule. The Palestinian Authority, weakened politically and geographically fragmented, is unlikely to serve as a stabilizing force without significant diplomatic intervention.
