Israel announces a plan to take over Gaza City in another escalation of the war

The Israeli security cabinet approved an early proposal on Friday for the army to expand The war in Gaza And the control of Gaza City, one of the last areas of the region, which is not yet subject to the complete military occupation.

The security cabinet meeting ran at night in Israel, where an army plan was eventually concluded to control all lands.

The announcement issued by the Prime Minister’s office comes to about 23 months in a war in it Israeli air strikes and attacks They killed at least 61,000 Palestinians, a third of them children, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Gaza City – a long time ago, the heart of Gaza – was largely destroyed Air strikes and raids Throughout the war. However, it is home to many hospitals that work partially in the region, and it is a church where Christians of the Gaza minority It is the shelter and where tens of thousands of displaced people have created tent camps.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has stopped describing Gaza City’s acquisition as a profession, although the United Nations says that nearly 90 % of Gaza is under military or outside the Palestinians and considered a red area. Gaza City, parts of the center of Gaza and the extension of the sand along the sea are the only areas that the only Israeli land forces have not occupied.

Israeli forces are already operating in Eastern Gaza City under the cover of semi -fixed air strikes. It is unclear how the military plans to pay further to the populated-packed areas, or where people may be forced to flee in unintended experts. Hunger He says he reveals Familiarity in the region.

By announcing the decision, the Netanyahu office said, without clarifying, that aid will be distributed to civilians outside the combat areas.

Israeli hostages families The militants in Gaza are still calling for a ceasefire, for fear that military operations can lead to their death.

Ainaf Zangucker, who is holding his son Matan, said this week and promised Netanyahu that he would take a deal to end the war and liberate the hostages.

"But he took advantage of my pain, and the pain of the families of this wounded nation – sabotaged the deal," She said. "He lied to me – he lied to all of us!"

The leader of the Israeli opposition, Yar Labid, criticized the decision as a "A catastrophe will lead to many disasters."

"This is exactly what Hamas wanted: for Israel to stumble on the ground without a goal, without determining the vision for the next day, in a highly feasible occupation that no one understands where to lead," He said in a statement.

Public opinion in Israel is divided on whether the war should be ended, but this week from thousands of thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv to a ceasefire. In addition, hundreds of former generals and security officials in Israel signed Open message President Trump has, and urged him to end the war and end the suffering. They said Hamas was no longer a strategic threat to Israel after the deadly group attack on October 7, 2023.

Netanyahu, however, resisted also Global pressure To end the war and greatly enhance aid in Gaza.

When asked this week about possible Israeli plans to occupy both Gaza, Trump said the decision was "Big to Israel."

The Security Council, which consists of the leading leaders of Israel, adopted five goals before Israel ended the war: disarmament in Hamas, fleeing from about 50 hostages – less than half of them are believed to be alive – removing the Gaza authority, and Israeli security control in Gaza on Gaza and proving the civil administration in which Hamas or strong.

The security cabinet statement did not provide any details about what the Israeli security control in Gaza will need to appear to Israel to end the war, nor how the civil administration will be formed, what is its role and who will manage it.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that an alternative plan for military operations in Gaza more than Netanyahu has been rejected by the security cabinet, which includes two developed right -wing ministers who have publicly called for the permanent expulsion of the Palestinians from Gaza and the rebuilding of Jewish settlements there.

Palestinians interact with the Israel plan

Mahmoud Abdel Salam Ahmed, 38, who lives in Gaza City, says he is preparing to fill his tent and what a little food is preparing to escape again.

"This is the worst news that I heard since the war began. The news that we heard today shocked us all, and we were not ready for such a war or such a process," He says.

In a market in Gaza City, Muhla’an Yahya Al -Yahariya, 32, says that the planned Israel operation will fail because Ghazan has already persevered through hardship.

"The people of Gaza are rooted on the ground. Death no longer makes a difference for us," He says. "We, as a community of Gaza, adapt and live with displacement, with death, with poverty, with all the difficult circumstances that no other person in the world has experienced – we lived and adapted to them."

Ali Al -Hanafi Abu Hassan, 51, who is displaced in Gaza City, says it would be impossible to evacuate again. His house was destroyed and two of his children were killed.

"I mean, by God, they did not leave us with anything. They destroyed everything, including homes, trees and stones. Where do you want (Netanyahu) to send us? We will not leave. Let them kill us only and the story will end," He says. "There is no safe place in the Gaza Strip."

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the decision of Israel to control Gaza City.

"This is a complete crime that represents a continuation of the policy of genocide, systematic killing, hunger, siege, and flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and United Nations decisions," He said

Israel faces international criticism

British Prime Minister Kiir Starmer said that the Israeli government’s decision to control Gaza City is "mistake" The government urges a reconsideration.

"This procedure will not do anything to end this conflict or to help secure the hostage issuance. It will only bring more bloodshed," He wrote in a statement. "What we need is the ceasefire, an increase in humanitarian aid, and the release of all hostages by Hamas and a solution that has been negotiated."

Australian Foreign Minister Beni Wong criticized this step in a statement.

"Australia calls on Israel not to follow this path, which will exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza," She said. "The two-state solution is the only way to secure a permanent peace-a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, which lives side by side in peace and security within the internationally recognized borders."

Meanwhile, Francesca Albaniz, the United Nations Special Rapporteur of the West Bank and Gaza, launched the advertisement "shock."

In an interview with the BBC, she said the decision "He talks about the despair of the Israeli Prime Minister," Adding was "It is difficult to imagine the amount of damage that (Netanyahu) can do because they (Gazan) exceed the brink of collapse."

Volcker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on the plan to be "Stop immediately," Adding that he was inconsistent with the rulings issued by the International Justice Courts on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, including Gaza.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Türkiye urged the United Nations to stop Israel’s move as a violation of international law.

"We call on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities to prevent the implementation of this plan, which seeks to make Gaza not suitable for housing and displace the Palestinian people by force from their lands." The ministry said in a statement.

People of Baba contributed to this report from Gaza City.

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