Netanyahu aims to assert territorial control over the entire Gaza region, according to recent reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's security cabinet have officially approved a plan to occupy Gaza City as the first phase of a broader offensive that could potentially involve the full occupation of the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), according to reports on August 7, 2025 [1].
The Israeli government's intention is to control all of Gaza, with the goal not to keep Gaza long-term but to establish a security perimeter and eventually hand governance to Arab forces other than Hamas or the Palestinian Authority [1]. The military is preparing to issue eviction orders to about 1 million Palestinians in Gaza City and surrounding areas ahead of the offensive, which is expected to take several months [1].
The plan includes disarming Hamas, returning hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, maintaining Israeli security control, and establishing an alternative civilian government [1]. However, the Israeli military has expressed concerns about the potential risks and time required to remove all Hamas tunnels and bunkers in a full occupation of the Gaza Strip [2].
Months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to achieve a ceasefire and release the last hostages have not yielded any results [3]. Of the 250 hostages taken during the conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas, together with its allies, killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel and took the hostages to the Gaza Strip [4], 20 are believed to be alive [5].
The demands for the deportation of the Palestinian population and the establishment of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip are new developments in the ongoing conflict [6]. These demands have been made by ministers from the right-wing extremist and ultra-religious parties of the ruling coalition [7].
However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has remained silent during these discussions [8]. A source close to Netanyahu told the news portal "ynetnews.com" that "The die is cast - we intend to fully occupy the Gaza Strip." The same source also stated that if the Chief of Staff (Eyal Zamir) is not agreeable to this, he should resign [9].
The international community has reacted to the news, with U.S. Congressman Sean Casten publicly opposing the plan, citing concerns over worsening the humanitarian crisis and increasing risks to hostages [2]. The full occupation of the Gaza Strip remains a contentious issue, with ongoing debates and concerns about its potential impact on the region.
References: 1. Haaretz 2. CNN 3. BBC News 4. Al Jazeera 5. Reuters 6. The Jerusalem Post 7. The Times of Israel 8. ynetnews.com 9. The New York Times
- The ongoing discussions within the Israeli government about occupying Gaza City and the potential full occupation of the Gaza Strip are not only limited to military and security issues, but also involve political maneuvering, general news, and war-and-conflicts reports.
- The proposed Israeli plan to occupy Gaza extends beyond military strategies, encompassing politics, as it aims to establish an alternative civilian government and discusses the potential deportation of the Palestinian population, generating controversy in general news and international politics.
