Photo credit: AP News
Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City.
AP reports that the Prime Minister’s office confirmed it. The decision was taken early Friday, and it marks another escalation of Israel’s 22-month offensive launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
The war has already killed thousands of Palestinians, destroyed much of Gaza, and pushed the territory of some 2 million Palestinians toward famine.
Before the Security Cabinet meeting, which started on Thursday and ran through the night, Netanyahu said Israel planned to retake control over the entire territory and eventually hand it off to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas.
Israel has continued to bombard Gaza City and carried out numerous raids there. It kept returning as militants regrouped. It is one of the few areas of Gaza that hasn’t been turned into an Israeli buffer zone or placed under evacuation orders. A major operation there could displace tens of thousands of people and further disrupt efforts to deliver food to the territory.
Expanding war operations in Gaza would put the lives of countless Palestinians and the roughly 20 remaining Israeli hostages at risk. It would also further isolate Israel internationally.
Families of hostages in Gaza fear an escalation could be a doom for their loved ones, and some protested outside the Security Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Former top brass of the Israeli security also condemned the plan. They warned against a quagmire with little added military benefit.
