Israeli Cabinet Approves Gaza City Takeover Amid Intense Domestic and International Backlash

Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, despite reported disagreements with top military officials and strong condemnation from both domestic opposition and international allies.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid vehemently criticized the decision, calling it “a disaster” that would lead to increased casualties among both hostages and soldiers, and result in “political collapse.” He accused far-right ministers of pushing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a move that contradicted military advice and played into Hamas’s hands by trapping Israel in a prolonged, aimless occupation. Reports indicate that military chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir had warned against a broader occupation, fearing a “black hole” of insurgency and humanitarian responsibility.

The decision has drawn sharp rebukes internationally. The UK’s ambassador to Israel, Simon Walters, cautioned that extending the war would only lead to more deaths and that occupying Gaza would be a “huge mistake,” advocating for political and diplomatic solutions. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Israel not to proceed, stating that permanent forced displacement would violate international law and worsen the humanitarian catastrophe. A Jordanian official also reiterated that Arab nations would only support solutions agreed upon by Palestinians.

Amidst the political maneuvering, hundreds of demonstrators protested outside Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, demanding an end to the war and the release of hostages. Hamas, for its part, claimed Netanyahu’s escalation plans were aimed at sacrificing captives for his personal and ideological interests. The proposed operation for Gaza City involves evacuating civilians to central camps, imposing a siege on remaining Hamas militants, and launching a ground offensive in the devastated urban area, which has already seen extensive destruction and displacement over nearly two years of conflict.

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