Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push for a new military campaign in Gaza is stirring controversy both inside Israel and across the globe. The plan, aimed at seizing full control of Gaza City, has drawn sharp warnings from military leaders, strong objections from families of Israeli hostages, and deep concern that it will lead to even greater Palestinian casualties.
The Israeli security cabinet, after a tense 10-hour meeting, gave the green light for what is expected to be the first phase of the operation. Although official statements avoided the term “occupation,” the intended outcome would place Gaza firmly under Israeli control. The timeline remains unclear, as the move would require recalling thousands of weary reservists and evacuating hundreds of thousands of Palestinians—most of whom have already been displaced multiple times during the conflict.
The proposal has triggered outrage from countries already critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, with foreign leaders urging an end to the war. Some, like the UK prime minister, have labeled the decision “wrong” and called for an immediate reversal. Yet international pressure appears unlikely to sway Netanyahu.
Inside Israel, dissatisfaction is growing. Polls suggest that most citizens would prefer a negotiated deal with Hamas to secure the release of the remaining hostages—believed to be around 20 alive out of the original 50—rather than expanding the war. Critics suspect Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict to protect his fragile coalition, which depends on hardline ministers who have threatened to walk out if the fighting stops.
Some of these ministers openly support the idea of Palestinians leaving Gaza—voluntarily or otherwise—and resettling the area with Jewish communities. Such proposals, if enforced, would be considered a war crime under international law.
Military leaders, including Israel’s chief of staff, have warned that occupying Gaza would be “walking into a trap” and could put hostages at greater risk. Families of those held in Gaza fear the expanded offensive could lead to their loved ones’ deaths—either at the hands of their captors or in crossfire.
In an interview ahead of the cabinet decision, Netanyahu said Israel intended to take “full control” of Gaza but insisted it did not want to govern it permanently. He floated the idea of handing over administration to “Arab forces” but gave no specifics on which countries might be involved. He has ruled out allowing the Palestinian Authority to take control.
The war, sparked by the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, has already taken a devastating toll—over 61,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza and about 1,200 people killed in Israel. As Netanyahu pushes ahead, fears grow that this next phase will escalate an already dire humanitarian crisis while deepening Israel’s political isolation.