Jerusalem, August 6: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to seek cabinet approval for a full military occupation of the Gaza Strip, despite resistance from senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials and growing concerns over the safety of hostages and humanitarian conditions in the enclave.
Citing Hebrew media reports, a senior official close to Netanyahu was quoted as saying, “The die is cast — we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip,” marking a significant escalation in Israel’s nearly year-long war against Hamas.
The proposed operation would see Israeli forces take control of the remaining 25% of Gaza not yet under IDF control, including areas believed to be holding Israeli hostages. Netanyahu has reportedly told ministers that such operations would proceed regardless of the hostage situation. According to Ynet, the prime minister suggested that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir should resign if he opposes the plan.
The IDF has publicly and privately expressed reservations over a full occupation, warning it could take years to dismantle Hamas’s extensive infrastructure, further endanger hostages, and deepen the humanitarian crisis. Military sources also said Lt. Gen. Zamir canceled a scheduled trip to the United States on Monday, citing the ongoing conflict and his responsibilities regarding the hostages.
A deep divide has emerged within Israel’s security cabinet over the future of the Gaza campaign. Hardline ministers — including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir — are reportedly in favor of full occupation. Meanwhile, key officials such as Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Mossad Director David Barnea, and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi are said to support continuing negotiations for a hostage-ceasefire deal.
The internal debate comes amid a broader policy shift by both Israel and the United States. A senior U.S. envoy recently informed families of hostages in Tel Aviv that President Donald Trump is backing a “comprehensive framework” that would aim for the release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and the full demilitarization of Gaza. “There will be no more partial deals,” a senior Israeli official was quoted as saying.
Talks with Hamas have reportedly stalled, and Israeli media suggest the government may now consider annexing parts of Gaza if a full military occupation is approved.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people and saw over 250 taken hostage, has led to devastating consequences for Gaza’s population. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims over 60,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead — a figure that cannot be independently verified and does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Israel says it has killed approximately 20,000 Hamas fighters in Gaza and 1,600 more during the initial cross-border assault. As of August, 459 Israeli personnel have died in combat during the ground offensive and operations near the Gaza border.
Israel maintains that it seeks to minimize civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of operating from within schools, hospitals, mosques, and other civilian infrastructure.
