Israel Cabinet Approves Plan to Occupy Gaza City Amid Global Outrage
Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to occupy Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in the region. The plan, which was announced on Thursday, aims to displace tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, and has sparked widespread condemnation and outrage globally.
Background and Context
The plan involves the Israeli military taking control of Gaza City, which accounts for 25% of the Gaza Strip's territory. This move is seen as a first step towards achieving Netanyahu's publicly declared intention of total occupation of the Gaza Strip, a decision which would mark a turning point with severe consequences. The approved plan includes a list of five demands that Israel will present to Hamas in exchange for ending the war on Gaza.
Key Developments and Details
Gaza City, home to approximately one million Palestinian residents, is to be emptied and taken over by Israeli forces as part of the first phase of the plan. Following the occupation of Gaza City, the military intends to distribute “humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.
The official statement referred to the move as a takeover,
while avoiding the term “occupy” to circumvent the legal obligations associated with formal occupation under international law. However, a senior Israeli official confirmed to local media that the actual intention is to occupy the Gaza Strip.
Implications and Reactions
The plan has received widespread condemnation, igniting protests both within Israel and abroad. The United Nations has called for the plan to be “immediately halted.” The displacement of Gaza City's one million residents further south and subsequent control of refugee camps in central Gaza could lead to a humanitarian crisis.
The move also risks endangering hostages held by Hamas, and has led to fears of a further escalation in violence. Some reports suggest that Israel's plan doesn’t mention the word occupation,
using seizure
instead, due to potential consequences stemming from international commitments concerning responsibility for the civilian population in occupied territories.
Current Status
Despite the global outcry, the plan remains in motion. Prime Minister Netanyahu's office announced that the cabinet members have endorsed five conditions to end the war: Hamas’ disarmament, the return of all hostages, Gaza’s demilitarization, Israeli security control, and a post-war civilian administration excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches on anxiously, awaiting the potential consequences of this significant escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict.