🇮🇱 Israeli Cabinet Set to Approve Plan for Full Re‑Occupation of Gaza

🇮🇱 Israeli Cabinet Set to Approve Plan for Full Re‑Occupation of Gaza

August 5, 2025 | Jerusalem — Israel’s Security Cabinet is expected to vote on Tuesday to adopt an expanded military plan to re‑occupy and govern the entire Gaza Strip, Israeli media reports. The proposed strategy would extend Israeli military operations into areas not previously controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), representing a significant escalation of the nearly two-year offensive (turn0search0)(turn0news19)(turn0news18).

🚧 What’s in the New Military Strategy

• The expanded plan reportedly builds on Operation Gideon’s Chariots, launched in May, which had already placed approximately 65–75% of Gaza under Israeli control (turn0search34)(turn0search38)(turn0search15).

• Under the new directive, Israeli troops are expected to move into the remaining pockets of Gaza, including densely populated refugee camps where hostages are believed to be held (turn0search2)(turn0search6)(turn0search8).

• The cabinet is divided: while some ministers—including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir—are pushing for full reoccupation, others—such as IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar—have voiced deep concerns about risking the remaining hostages' safety and extending the conflict indefinitely (turn0search2)(turn0search10)(turn0news18).

🧭 Balancing Military Pressure, Hostage Risks, and Humanitarian Crisis

• The strategy is intended to increase pressure on Hamas to release approximately 50 remaining hostages, particularly as ceasefire negotiations mediated in Doha have collapsed, and disturbing videos of malnourished captives have intensified public and international scrutiny (turn0news18)(turn0news22).

• Yet military and intelligence leaders caution that expanding operations into civilian zones may jeopardize the hostages’ safety and prolong war logistics for years (turn0search2)(turn0search13)(turn0search10).

• Meanwhile, Gaza continues to face a deepening humanitarian catastrophe: famine-like conditions persist, aid remains blocked, and more than 60,900 Palestinians have died in the conflict, fueling mounting international condemnation (turn0news22)(turn0news19).

🌍 Global and Domestic Response

• Former Israeli security officials—including ex-generals and intelligence chiefs—have urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to pause military escalation, arguing Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat and a negotiated ceasefire is the only viable course (turn0news21).

• International entities such as the United Nations, EU, France, and Saudi Arabia are advocating for a two-state peace framework and urging Hamas to disarm—though Israel insists Hamas must relinquish arms before any agreement (turn0news19)(turn0news31)(turn0news21).

• Domestically, public protests and political pressure are growing, with families of hostages and rights advocates emphasizing that expanding conflict may harm overall Israeli security rather than serve it (turn0news22)(turn0news20).

✅ What to Watch This Week

• The Security Cabinet meeting on Tuesday will likely formalize the aggressive expansion plan—or open space for alternative diplomacy if opposition factions prevail.

• Statements from IDF leadership versus hardline ministers may highlight ideological fracture within Israel’s security establishment.

• International reactions, notably from the U.S. and regional players, may influence Israel's calculus amid rising mass humanitarian alarms.

Israel stands poised at a critical juncture: a decision to fully occupy Gaza may bolster military leverage but risks amplifying humanitarian devastation and hostage vulnerability. With internal dissent and international alarm growing, Tuesday’s cabinet meeting could determine whether Israel doubles down on force—or shifts toward diplomatic resolution—amid a war that has already exacted a staggering human toll.