Israel’s Plan to ‘Seize Control’ of Gaza City Sparks Global Outcry

JERUSALEM, Aug 9 — Israel’s military is set to “take control” of Gaza City under a newly approved plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, sparking a wave of domestic and international criticism.

Nearly two years into the Gaza war, Netanyahu is under growing pressure to secure a truce that could pull the territory’s more than two million residents back from famine’s edge and secure the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants.

Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack ignited the conflict, condemned the move to expand fighting as a “new war crime.”

In a rare rebuke, close ally Germany announced it would suspend military exports to Israel over concerns the weapons could be used in Gaza — a decision Netanyahu denounced as rewarding Hamas.

Under the new plan to “defeat” Hamas, the Israeli army will prepare to seize control of Gaza City while delivering humanitarian aid outside combat zones, Netanyahu’s office said.

Netanyahu insisted on X, “We are not going to occupy Gaza — we are going to free Gaza from Hamas,” adding that demilitarising the territory and establishing “a peaceful civilian administration” would help secure the hostages’ release and prevent future threats.

Israel occupied Gaza from 1967 until withdrawing troops and settlers in 2005. The cabinet’s “five principles” include demilitarisation and creating an alternative civil administration “neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.”

The plan prompted swift reactions from China, Turkey, Britain, and several Arab governments, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned it was a “dangerous escalation” that could worsen the humanitarian crisis. The UN Security Council is expected to meet tomorrow to discuss it.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, announcing the suspension of arms shipments, said it was “increasingly difficult to understand” how the plan would achieve legitimate objectives.

Inside Israel, reactions were divided. Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the military has begun preparations, but the Hostage and Missing Families Forum accused the cabinet of “abandoning” the captives. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 confirmed dead.

Local media reported an expanded offensive could involve Israeli troops in densely populated areas where hostages may be held. Some Israelis voiced support, believing the move would significantly weaken Hamas.

Gaza residents, however, feared further displacement and attacks. “They tell us to go south, then back north, and now south again. We are human beings, but no one hears us,” said 52-year-old mother of six Maysa al-Shanti.

Hamas warned the plan would “cost [Israel] dearly” and risk the lives of hostages.

The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. The WHO reports at least 99 malnutrition deaths in Gaza this year, while aid drops have caused injuries and fatalities due to falling parcels and stampedes. Gaza’s civil defence said 16 people were killed in Israeli strikes yesterday.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The October 2023 attack on Israel killed 1,219 people, based on an AFP tally of official figures. — AFP