In a recent Fox News interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made crystal clear the Israeli government’s policy towards Gaza. As he is about to meet his newly appointed members of the security cabinet – we assume. They’ll probably touch on what a military takeover of all of the Gaza enclave might entail. The backdrop to these advocacy conversations, of course, is the ongoing war with Hamas. It started in response to the horrific surprise attack that took place on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis.
In that interview, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s goal of reoccupying Gaza and reestablishing full military control. He didn’t say that Israel will or should in some way govern the territory. The endgame, he stressed, was transferring as much control as possible to Arab forces. These forces would need to be capable of maintaining order in Gaza and preventing any risk to Israel. We certainly don’t want to retain it,” Netanyahu repeated. He shared his vision for Gaza. He voiced a hope of handing power over to Arab forces that can restore civil order and law guaranteeing order for us and a decent life for Gazans. That’s not possible with Hamas.
Plans for Military Control
Netanyahu’s statements are made at an unprecedented time on the ground. The Israeli government is under growing domestic and international pressure to end the 22-month war in Gaza. This pressure is both international and domestic. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich would like to see a positive outcome from the next security cabinet meeting. He is confident it will ratify plans by the military to reestablish control over the rest of Gaza.
Israel already controls between 75% and 85% of Gaza’s territory now. Grave concerns are mounting about the humanitarian crisis that’s quickly unfolding in the area. Over the course of Israel’s military campaign—dubbed “Operation Protective Edge”—we’ve seen alarming reports detailing the widespread devastation of Gaza’s infrastructure and housing. According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since clashes started. Israel contests these figures and has not publicly provided its own casualty counts.
Just last week, the Gaza health ministry reported that Israeli fire directly killed 98 Palestinians in the tiny coastal enclave. This heartbreaking death came in the past 24 hours. These numbers point to the critical nature of the current violence as well as the role of civilians, especially children.
Domestic and International Reactions
Netanyahu’s plans for a full military occupation have garnered criticism from various quarters, including senior military officials and family members of hostages taken by Hamas during the conflict. As you might expect, many are concerned that this unprecedented move won’t actually address the root causes of violence. They are especially concerned that it will simply inflame existing tensions.
Hamas reacted strongly against Netanyahu’s plans, accusing him of putting military action ahead of humanitarian relief. In response to Netanyahu’s plans to increase aggression, a spokesman for Hamas said that Netanyahu’s plans to eliminate his captives are evident. They are convinced he is ready to throw them under the bus.
Family members of Israeli hostages have protested in recent weeks as the situation continues to escalate. They departed from Israel’s shores, sailing directly into Gaza’s maritime boundary. They had already condemned Netanyahu for extending the war and not rescuing their relatives who were hostages.
The Path Forward
As Netanyahu goes into talks with his new security cabinet, the effects of a military coup would be unclear. The international community watches closely as Israel grapples with its strategy in Gaza, balancing security concerns against the need for humanitarian considerations.
With civilian casualties in the hundreds and climbing, Israel’s political and military leadership will be held deeply accountable for their subsequent choices. The pressure is building from all sides. Looking ahead, it will be fascinating to watch the government turn this tripartite political landscape into a path toward resolution.
