Israel Security Cabinet Approves Plan to Seize Gaza City Amid Mounting Global and Domestic Opposition.
Jerusalem/Gaza:
The Israeli security cabinet has approved a military plan to seize control of Gaza City, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed late Thursday. The move marks a significant escalation in Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza and is widely seen as the first step toward Netanyahu’s previously stated goal of taking full control of the entire enclave.
Gaza City, the largest urban center in Gaza, is home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and is considered a major stronghold of Hamas and other militant factions. Capturing the city would represent a symbolic and strategic victory for the Israeli government, but it comes with substantial humanitarian and political risks.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the cabinet’s decision focuses specifically on Gaza City and forms part of a broader plan to “eliminate Hamas’s operational infrastructure.” While no specific timeline has been provided, military analysts believe that ground operations could intensify in the coming days.
“This is a crucial phase in our mission to restore security to Israel’s citizens,” Netanyahu said earlier, reiterating his long-term intention to assert full Israeli control over Gaza.
UK and International Criticism
The decision has been met with sharp international criticism. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the move as “wrong” and warned that escalating military operations would “only bring more bloodshed.”
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is already dire,” Starmer said during a press conference in London. “Further escalation will not lead to peace—it will only deepen suffering, cost more lives, and delay any chance of long-term resolution.”
The United Nations also issued a stark warning. A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said that an expanded Israeli military operation in Gaza “risks catastrophic consequences for Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages still held in the enclave.”
Internal Dissent and Media Restrictions
Opposition is also growing within Israel. Several Israeli lawmakers and civil society groups have voiced concerns about the direction of the war, questioning both the feasibility and morality of reoccupying Gaza. Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas continue to demand that negotiations—not expanded military action—be prioritized.
Adding to the growing tension is the continued lack of independent media access to Gaza. The Israeli government does not permit international news organizations to freely enter or report from the territory. This restriction has raised concerns over transparency and accountability as civilian casualties mount and infrastructure is devastated.
Humanitarian Toll Mounting
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical. International aid organizations have warned that further military escalation in densely populated urban areas such as Gaza City could lead to mass displacement, a breakdown in medical services, and widespread civilian casualties.
While Israel says its operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas and ensuring national security, critics argue the strategy risks igniting broader regional instability and undermining prospects for a negotiated peace.
As of now, the timeline and scope of the military operation remain unclear. However, with the Israeli cabinet’s approval of the Gaza City plan, a new and potentially more devastating phase of the conflict appears imminent.
