Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has reportedly decided to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, marking a significant shift in strategy. According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu’s decision will see the Israeli military expand its operations across the entire enclave, including areas where Hamas’s captives are being held. This move is part of Netanyahu’s efforts to achieve Israel’s war objectives, including eliminating Hamas and securing the release of the remaining captives.
A senior official in Netanyahu’s office said, “The decision has been made. Hamas won’t release more hostages without total surrender, and we won’t surrender. If we don’t act now, the hostages will starve to death and Gaza will remain under Hamas’s control.” The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the reported plans and called on the international community to “intervene urgently to prevent their implementation”.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with at least 74 Palestinians, including 36 aid seekers, killed in Israeli attacks on Monday. The Israeli military’s actions have also led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread malnutrition and deaths due to lack of food and medicine. More than 60,930 Palestinians, including at least 18,430 children, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023. Netanyahu’s office has faced criticism for not allowing sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza, with only 14% of the needed aid entering the enclave daily.
Netanyahu is facing growing international pressure to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and halt the war. The Israeli leader is also facing mounting domestic pressure to secure the release of Hamas’s remaining captives in Gaza. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan accused the United States and other Western countries of turning a blind eye to Israeli atrocities and said Netanyahu’s government bore “full responsibility” for the lives of the captives.
In response to the criticism, Netanyahu said, “We must continue to stand together and fight together to achieve all our war objectives: the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.” The conflict has sparked widespread protests and calls for an end to the violence, with many questioning the Israeli government’s strategy in Gaza.