Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The decision represents a pivotal shift in strategy as the government seeks to dismantle Hamas's hold on the area.
In an interview with Fox News ahead of the security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the goal is to "assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza." He added, "We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life."
Hamas swiftly condemned the announcement, calling it "a clear reversal of the course of negotiations" and accusing Netanyahu of revealing hidden motives behind recent talks.
Meanwhile, Gaza-based health authorities report at least 9,752 Palestinian fatalities and 40,004 injuries since March 18 alone, when Israel intensified its strikes. The broader conflict has reached a staggering toll of 61,258 deaths and 152,045 injuries since October 2023.
As the plan moves forward, humanitarian groups and international observers are watching closely. The proposed handover to Arab forces raises questions about regional security, civilian safety, and the future of governance in one of the world’s most contested cities.
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Israel's security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City
cgtn.com
