The Israeli security cabinet approved the controversial plan
early Friday, marking a new escalation in the country’s nearly two-year-long
war against Hamas.
The announcement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s office came after hours of debate among senior security officials.
The decision to move into Gaza City was made in light of
Netanyahu’s earlier suggestions that the military would "take control of
all Gaza," but also his claim that Israel had no intention of occupying
the Strip permanently.
Saudi
Arabia has strongly condemned, in the strongest terms, the Israeli occupation
of the Gaza Strip, denouncing what it described as deliberate acts of
starvation, brutality, and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people. In
a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The inhumane
ideas and decisions adopted by the Israeli occupation authorities without
deterrence once again confirm their disregard for the deep emotional,
historical, and legal connection of the Palestinian people to this land, and
for their rightful claim to it in accordance with international laws and
humanitarian principles.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the move in
strong terms, stating, “Israel’s decision to further escalate its offensive in
Gaza is wrong and we urge it to reconsider immediately.”
“This action will do nothing to bring an end to this
conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more
bloodshed,” Starmer said in a statement.
“What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid,
the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution.”
Starmer
added that Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well
as disarm. The Britain, he said, is working with allies on a long-term strategy
to establish peace in the region as part of a two-state solution.
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen echoed those
concerns, stating she was extremely worried about the worsening humanitarian
conditions in Gaza. “We hope for an immediate Gaza ceasefire and the immediate
release of Israeli hostages,” she said.
Australian
Foreign Minister Penny Wong called on Israel to back down, warning that permanent
forced displacement is a violation of international law.
US President Donald Trump commented earlier this week that
the decision was really up to Israel and blamed Hamas for stalling
negotiations.
"They didn’t really want to make a deal," he said.
UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk slammed the move saying, “The Israeli
government’s plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip
must be immediately halted.”
“It runs
contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must
bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realization of the
agreed two-state solution and to the right of Palestinians to
self-determination,” he added.
Reactions within Israel were divided. Opposition leader Yair
Lapid denounced the government’s plan, saying it went against the advice of
military leadership.
"The plan is completely contrary to the position of the
military and the defence establishment, without taking into consideration the
burnout and the exhaustion of the combat troops," he said.
Chief
of the General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir warned earlier on Thursday
that the plan would endanger the lives of the hostages and further stretch the
military.
Zamir has repeatedly clashed with the security cabinet in
recent days, notably over the Gaza proposal.
Prior to the security cabinet session on Thursday, Netanyahu
denied Israel had any intentions of permanently controlling Gaza in its entirety.
"We
don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter," the Israeli
leader told Fox News. "We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be
there as a governing body."
He said that Israel intends to hand over the Strip to a
coalition of Arab forces that would govern it.
The announcement comes as humanitarian organizations
continue to warn of severe conditions in Gaza, where widespread hunger and
displacement are mounting daily.
The
ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has displaced nearly the entire population of
Gaza, destroyed over 60% of the enclave’s buildings and infrastructure, and
brought most of its 2 million residents to the brink of famine.
