In a move that has reverberated across capitals and social feeds worldwide, Israel's Security Cabinet approved a plan on Thursday to 'take control' of Gaza City and its surrounding areas. Proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the initiative aims to 'free Gaza from Hamas' without establishing a lasting occupation.
In his first public comments since the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu wrote on X that 'we are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas. Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization.'
Axios reporter Barak Ravid cited an unnamed Israeli official describing an operation that would involve the forced displacement of all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City to central camps and other areas by October 7. 'A siege will be imposed on the Hamas militants who remain in Gaza City, and at the same time, a ground offensive will be carried out in Gaza City,' the official said.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the move as a 'dangerous escalation,' stressing that 'Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State.' He urged Israel to abandon the plan and called on all parties to return to negotiations grounded in a two-state solution.
The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss the development, while senior UN human rights officials warn the operation risks inflicting further suffering on civilians and undermining prospects for peace.
As global condemnation grows, the world watches with mounting concern over civilian safety and the future of the two-state pathway. The plan's consequences may ripple far beyond Gaza, shaping regional stability and sparking debates on humanitarian law and conflict resolution.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
