In a ten-hour meeting, the security cabinet adopted a plan by Prime Minister Netanyahu. According to the plan, Israel would take control of Gaza City – but not, for the time being, of the entire Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Chancellor Merz announced a suspension of arms exports that could be used in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli security cabinet has approved a plan for the army to take over Gaza City. The ten-hour meeting began at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Previously, there had been talk of conquering the entire Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli media reports, the word "occupy" does not appear in the resolution. The ministers adopted five principles that must be fulfilled before the Gaza war can end: the disarmament of the terrorist group Hamas; the return of all hostages; the demilitarization of Gaza; continued Israeli security control; and a civilian post-war government without Hamas or the Palestinian Authority (PA).
According to the online newspaper "Times of Israel," approximately 800,000 Palestinians live in Gaza City, some of whom have been displaced several times during the now 22-month-long war. Israel claims to control 75 percent of the coastal enclave. The remaining 25 percent includes Gaza City in the north and several refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip. The army has so far avoided entering these areas because most of the hostages are believed to be there.
According to the ruling, residents have two months to evacuate the city – until October 7, the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on southern Israel. The fight against the remaining Hamas terrorists is then scheduled to begin.
Army chief and relatives of hostages, on the other hand
The plan originates from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud). According to him, there will be several phases, beginning with Gaza City. However, "even in an operation to take over the Gaza Strip, we can end hostilities if Hamas agrees to Israel's conditions," the newspaper "Yediot Aharonot" quoted the prime minister as saying.
Army chief Ejal Samir opposed the proposal and presented his own plan. According to Channel 12, he said: “The lives of the hostages will be in danger if we implement this plan to occupy Gaza. There is no way to guarantee that we will not harm them. Our troops are exhausted, and the military equipment needs maintenance.” He added that there were also humanitarian and sanitary concerns regarding the Palestinians.
Samir added: “There is no humanitarian response for transferring a million people. Everything will become complicated.” He remarked sarcastically: “I suggest you scrap the return of the hostages from the war sites.” His alternative plan was rejected by the majority of ministers because it would bring neither victory over Hamas nor the release of the hostages. The details of the plan were not elaborated upon in media reports.
Relatives of hostages are also opposing Netanyahu's proposal. Protests took place in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening. Thousands of demonstrators blocked roads, leading to clashes with police.
Humanitarian aid will be increased
Netanyahu's office stated that Israel would provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside combat zones. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee had announced on Wednesday that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) would increase the number of its distribution centers from three to 16 and operate 24 hours a day.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism) and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Jewish Strength) opposed the planned large-scale deliveries of humanitarian aid. They emphasized that victory was at stake. Smotrich further criticized the fact that the resolution did not explicitly rule out the possibility of using aid for a hostage deal.
Germany suspends arms deliveries
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) criticized the decision. Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas's terror, he wrote on Friday on X. "The release of the hostages and negotiations on a ceasefire are our top priority." The disarmament of Hamas is "essential"; it must not play any role in Gaza in the future. "The even tougher approach decided upon by the Israeli security cabinet makes it increasingly unclear how the objectives are to be achieved. The German government will not, until further notice, approve any exports of arms that could be used in the Gaza Strip."
Merz called for full access for aid deliveries. "Following the positive steps taken in recent days, Israel must continue to comprehensively and sustainably improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza."
DIG: Hamas wins on points
The German-Israeli Society (DIG) criticized the decision to partially suspend arms exports due to the Gaza war. "If this decision by the German government stands, it will be a victory for Hamas in the global propaganda war," the organization wrote in a statement. It pointed to the 50 hostages held by Hamas and its alleged theft of humanitarian aid.
The German-Israeli Society (DIG) agreed with the statement that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism and that disarmament is essential. It added: "The only question is, what is the German government's proposal to achieve this 'essential disarmament'? Hamas is clearly not surrendering its weapons or releasing its hostages voluntarily."
According to Hamas's health ministry, more than 60,000 people have been killed or are presumed dead in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war. These figures cannot be independently verified, and no distinction is made between civilians and terrorists. Israel has reported 459 deaths since the start of its ground offensive in late October 2023. Among them are two police officers and three employees of the Ministry of Defense. (Israelnetz)
