In a monumental development amidst the current Israel-Gaza war, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement. The Israeli security cabinet has approved a new plan that focuses on taking control of Gaza City. Opposition leaders have understandably condemned this move in strident terms. Now, all of a sudden, military officials are starting to ring alarm bells about what an operation like this would mean.
The security cabinet has approved the plan by a narrow majority vote. To guide this new military strategy going forward, they agreed on five joint enterprise action principles. Netanyahu pushed at every opportunity for hard Israeli security control over what he called the “no-man’s land,” namely the Gaza Strip. He emphasized the importance of demilitarization. He stated, “We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of [Gaza].” Instead of a complete invasion, the proposed operation would involve targeted action. This is done to reduce military leaders’ worries about the stress of an ongoing occupation. Footnote11
Yair Lapid, the head of the parliamentary opposition, condemned the decision in the strongest terms. He referred to it as “a disaster that will cause a thousand disasters.” His comments capture the growing international alarm about the risk of further escalation of violence and civilian toll in the region. Lapid’s statement came as relatives of some 20 hostages still being held in Gaza launched sit-ins. They have begun to organize and demonstrate against the federal government’s failure to adequately respond to this important crisis.
Israeli media reports have highlighted an unusual public rift between Netanyahu and senior military leadership over the planning of the operation. A senior Israeli official said IDF preparing for a concentrated operation on the Gaza City. This targeted approach only makes sense when considered in the context of significant ongoing concerns about the humanitarian impact on civilians, including UN staff.
In a step that demonstrates broader international engagement in this crisis, Indonesia has sent humanitarian assistance to Gaza during the ongoing war. These supports underscore the global ramifications of the continuing wars. It further underscores the critical need for humanitarian assistance as violence continues to already flare.
Reports later emerged suggesting that Israel’s Mossad spy agency had asked the US for help. Meanwhile, they hoped to persuade as many countries as possible to take in hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the new war. This strategic move may indicate that Israel is beginning to look for longer-term answers that don’t rely solely on firepower.
The situation has drawn further international attention. Simon Walters, a UK ambassador to Israel, expressed concerns about the ongoing war, stating that “extending the war in Gaza would only lead to more deaths” and labeling an occupation of Gaza as a “huge mistake.” He underlined that military action will not by itself defeat Hamas. He urged that political solutions and diplomacy form the backbone of any resolution to the conflict.
Israel has declared its intent to embark upon a two-stage invasion to take control of Gaza City. The strategy includes tightening a noose around the remaining Hamas fighters while beginning an invasion by land. The ostensible purpose is to evacuate Palestinian civilians caught in Gaza City. They must be able to arrive at central camps and other reincorporation zones by noon on October 7.
Netanyahu’s government continues to argue that this operation is necessary to restore Israel’s security and to wipe Hamas’ first-floor presence out of Gaza. Rising military actions come at great cost, to both Israeli and Palestinian lives, critics warn.