Israeli Security Cabinet approves PM Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza City

They adopted five principles for ending the war, namely disarming Hamas, returning hostages, demilitarizing Gaza and maintaining a security presence, and the formation of a civilian government.

The statement did not use the term “occupation,” rather using the term “takeover,” due to legal ramifications for the civilian population in the enclave, Ynet reported.

Security Cabinet adopts five principles for ending the war

The Security Cabinet also adopted five principles for ending the war, namely disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, both living and murdered, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, Israel maintaining security control over the Gaza Strip, and the existence of a civilian government that is not controlled by either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

An absolute majority of cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan, which was presented to the Security Cabinet, would not achieve the defeat of Hamas or the return of the hostages.

“There is no humanitarian response for the million people we will transfer. Everything will be complex, I suggest that you remove the return of the hostages from the military objectives,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Eyal Zamir said, reaffirming his objections to the plan.

“Stop talking to the media. We want a decision. We all worry about the hostages, but also about the soldiers who demand victory. There are constant briefings by military officials. You are subordinate to the political echelon. Learn from the police how to obey the decisions of the political echelon,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded to Zamir.

“We must talk about victory. If we go for a temporary deal, it is a defeat. We must not stop halfway. We must exact a price from Hamas; Hamas must pay a price for what it did,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented.

Satellite footage indicates increased IDF mobilization near Gaza Strip, NBC reports

Commercial satellite imagery showed the IDF amassing troops and equipment near the Israel-Gaza border, according to three current and one former US official who all viewed the footage, NBC reported on Friday.

The sources stated that these troop movements and formations are signs of an “imminent major ground operation.”

The plan, proposed by Netanyahu and deliberated in the meeting on Thursday-Friday overnight, includes encircling Gaza City and relocating around one million residents to the southern part of the enclave. Israeli public broadcaster KAN noted that the meeting lasted approximately 10 hours.

Following this, a senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the military would “target the terrorist strongholds in the city,” with operations later expanding to the central refugee camps.

Occupation op. expected to last at least six months

The operation is expected to take at least six months. A senior official told the Post that Netanyahu is “determined that this is the only path to defeating Hamas.” In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, the prime minister stated: “We intend to militarily take over the entire Gaza Strip, dismantle Hamas, and transfer control to another authority.”

Regarding whether the Trump administration supports the move, a US official told the Post that “Israel is to decide what it needs to do for its own security.”

Hamas will treat any force formed to govern Gaza as an ‘occupying’ force linked to Israel, an official from the terror organization told Al Jazeera Mubasher on Thursday, following Netanyahu’s remarks.

Meanwhile, Israeli politicians slammed the government ahead of the critical security cabinet meeting earlier on Thursday, as protests against the decision raged outside the meeting.

Family members of hostages held in Hamas captivity, along with hundreds of demonstrators, demanded that the government not proceed with the plans for the operation, warning of its harm.

Sarah Ben-Nun, Keshet Neev, Anna Barsky, and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. / Jerousalem Post