Israel’s Security Cabinet has unanimously approved a plan to expand its military onslaught on the Gaza Strip and occupy the entire territory.
In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Cabinet approved an “operational plan” submitted by Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
The plan requires the army “to conquer Gaza and hold the territory under its control.”
Later, in a recorded address posted on X, Netanyahu said: “We met late into the night on Sunday in the Cabinet and decided to launch an intensive military operation in Gaza, based on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff.”
According to Netanyahu, the army chief’s recommendation calls for the defeat of the Palestinian group Hamas, a goal he claimed could also help secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.
“I agree with him on this,” Netanyahu added.
His remarks aligned with recent statements by senior ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who previously declared that eliminating Hamas takes precedence over recovering the hostages.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Netanyahu also said there is a plan to evacuate Gaza’s population, claiming it aims to “protect” civilians, though he offered no further details.
“We’ve spoken a lot about this issue, and we won’t go into it now,” he added.
Signaling a shift from previous military campaigns, Netanyahu stressed that Israel would not conduct a temporary ground operation only to withdraw later.
“Let it be clear: we will not enter Gaza and then pull out as we’ve done in the past. We will not send reserve forces to temporarily control the area and then leave it with only sporadic raids on what remains. That will not happen,” he said, adding: “What we’re planning is the exact opposite,” though he did not elaborate on what that would entail.
Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said during a press conference that the army has a “well-organised plan” and is now transitioning into a “more complex, powerful and intense phase.”
He said the operation would involve a broad offensive and the forced relocation of most residents to a zone Israel describes as “free of Hamas.”
The term revives Israel’s use of the so-called “humanitarian safe zone” in Gaza previously declared in the Al-Mawasi area along the Palestinian coast — from southern Khan Younis to the northern edge of Deir al-Balah. That area has seen repeated Israeli strikes, including deadly attacks on tents sheltering women, children and journalists.
Defrin said the army would continue carrying out airstrikes and dismantling Hamas infrastructure as part of the new phase.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the plan also includes the forcible relocation of Palestinians from northern Gaza to the south.
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said the Israeli plan will help accelerate the relocation of Palestinians out of Gaza as proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Karhi said the migration of Palestinians from Gaza is “the solution” for the enclave, according to the Israeli public broadcaster KAN.
There is “political activity” for Israel in looking for countries that may accept Palestinians from Gaza, he added.
On Feb. 4, Trump said the U.S. would “take over” and “own” Gaza, describing it as a “completely destroyed” area.
The idea has been rejected by the Arab world and many other nations, who say it amounts to ethnic cleansing.
Hamas statement
In a statement Hamas said: “The approval by the occupation’s cabinet of plans to expand its ground operation in the Gaza Strip constitutes an explicit decision to sacrifice the ‘Israeli’ prisoners held in Gaza and to reproduce the cycle of failure it began eighteen months ago — without achieving any of its declared objectives.
“The statements by the terrorist Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, affirm his determination to commit more war crimes against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip, fully backed by the American administration.
“Our Palestinian people and heroic resistance, who through their steadfastness and resilience brought down (Halevi) and his criminal plans, will not be intimidated by the threats and schemes of (Zamir). We are the rightful owners of this land and will remain upon it, no matter how far the aggression of the fascist occupation goes.
“We call on Arab and Islamic nations, the international community, the United Nations and its institutions to assume their responsibilities and immediately act to restrain the fascist occupation government and curb its brutal crimes against our people, and to work toward bringing its leaders to international justice.
“We appeal to the masses of our Arab and Islamic peoples, and to free people in every country and capital, to intensify popular pressure and mobilisation to stop the aggression against the Gaza Strip, stand with our people’s legitimate right to freedom on their land, end the occupation, and achieve self-determination.”
Israeli estimates suggest that 59 captives remain in Gaza, with 24 believed alive. In contrast, more than 9,500 Palestinians remain imprisoned in Israel under harsh conditions, including reports of torture, starvation and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights organisations.
More than 52,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
