Israel Approves Plan to Take Control of Gaza City

Post by : Monika

Photo: Reuters

Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to launch a full military takeover of Gaza City. This move is a major step in a war that has already lasted nearly two years. The decision has sparked concern inside Israel and around the world. Many fear the new plan could cause more suffering for civilians in Gaza, who are already facing extreme hardships.

Why Israel Is Doing This
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his leadership team believe that taking control of Gaza City is necessary to win the war against Hamas. They say this is the only way to free Israeli hostages still being held there and stop future attacks.

Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel does not plan to rule Gaza forever. He says the military will take control temporarily, create a secure environment, and then hand over power to a new civilian government. This future leadership would not include Hamas or the current Palestinian Authority.

However, the government has not shared many details about who would be in charge of this new administration or which countries, if any, would support it.

Five Main Goals of the Plan
The approved plan is based on five key objectives:

• Disarm Hamas – Take away all weapons and prevent the group from rebuilding its military power.
• Free the hostages – Rescue Israeli citizens being held, whether alive or not.
• Remove all military threats from Gaza – Ensure Gaza is no longer a base for attacks.
• Keep Israeli security in control – Maintain military oversight to stop future violence.
• Set up a new civilian administration – Build a local government not connected to either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.
• Most of Israel’s cabinet ministers believe that any other plan would fail to meet these goals.

What’s Happening Next
Now that the plan is approved, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will begin preparing for a large operation to enter Gaza City. At the same time, they will try to keep helping civilians in areas not involved in the fighting. Aid like food, water, and medical help is expected to continue where possible.

Military experts say the operation is likely to be forceful. Civilians living in the targeted areas may be asked to leave before troops enter. Once the operation begins, Israeli forces will likely move into central areas, including neighborhoods and refugee camps still held by Hamas.

Reports say the operation could last for up to six months.

Current Situation on the Ground
As of now, the Israeli military already controls about 75% of the Gaza Strip. However, Gaza City remains a major stronghold of Hamas fighters and is believed to be the hiding place of many hostages.

Of the estimated 50 hostages still in Gaza, around 20 are thought to be alive. Their exact locations remain unknown.

Conditions in Gaza are extremely severe. Many residents have been forced to flee their homes more than once. Food and clean water are hard to find, hospitals are overwhelmed, and large parts of the city are in ruins.

Warnings from Israel’s Military Leadership
Not everyone in Israel agrees with the plan. One of the strongest warnings came from Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who leads the Israeli military.

He warned that taking full control of Gaza City could backfire. According to him, the operation may put the remaining hostages at even greater risk. He also said that the military could get stuck in a long and dangerous situation, which could drain resources and soldiers' strength.

Zamir called the plan a “strategic trap” and said the army might struggle to manage such a large and complex mission.

Protests and Public Reaction
The decision has also caused emotional reactions among the Israeli public. Families of the hostages have been protesting in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Many say the government’s plan puts their loved ones in more danger.

Some protesters even took boats close to Gaza’s shores to raise awareness and demand that the hostages be brought home safely before any further military moves.

International Backlash
The plan has received criticism from several countries and international organizations.

Jordan, a neighboring Arab country, has urged other Arab nations not to help with what it called “cleaning up” Israel’s plan. Jordan says that Gaza’s future leadership should come from official Palestinian institutions and not be handpicked by Israel.

Australia called the plan a violation of international law. Australian leaders also warned that this move could make the humanitarian crisis in Gaza much worse.

The United Nations and global aid organizations have spoken out strongly. They say the plan will lead to more destruction, more hunger, and more suffering for Gaza’s people.

Topic    Details

• Main Goal    Defeat Hamas, rescue hostages, and remove weapons from Gaza
• Next Step    Israeli military will prepare to move into Gaza City
• Timeline    Operation may last about six months
• Current Control    Israel controls roughly 75% of Gaza already
• Biggest Risks    Hostages may be harmed, the army could be stretched thin, civilian crisis worsens
• Who Opposes It    Israeli military leaders, protestors, Arab neighbors, UN, aid groups
• Netanyahu’s Plan    Temporary military control, then transfer to a new civilian government

Why This Matters
This plan represents a major turning point in the Gaza war. It's more than just a military decision—it’s a political gamble with serious consequences for both Israel and Gaza.

For Israel, the operation could help bring back hostages and deal a blow to Hamas. But it could also harm Israel’s global reputation, divide its citizens, and put soldiers at risk.

For Gaza, this could mean more violence, more suffering, and a future that remains uncertain. The people of Gaza, especially the two million civilians caught in the middle, are already facing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory.

Looking Ahead
Many things remain unclear:

• Will the military operation succeed in weakening Hamas?
• Can Israel avoid harming the hostages during the campaign?
• Who will actually govern Gaza after the operation ends?
• And will the world accept Israel’s version of a new civilian government?
• The coming months will show whether this bold move will bring peace—or deepen the suffering and chaos that has already lasted far too long.

Gaza City takeover