Israeli PM wins cabinet backing for Gaza city takeover Despite IDF warnings

Israel’s security cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to seize Gaza City, overriding concerns from the Israel Defence Forces that the move could endanger hostages and trigger a humanitarian crisis.

The decision, reached overnight August 7–8, authorises an operation limited to Gaza City, falling short of Netanyahu’s earlier stated goal of capturing the entire Strip, Caliber.Az reports citing Israeli media.

Hours before the meeting, the prime minister said that a full takeover was his intention.

The premier’s office described the plan as part of a bid to “defeat Hamas,” signalling further operations could follow. Israel says it controls 75% of Gaza, with the remaining quarter — mainly Gaza City and central refugee camps — believed to house most of the hostages.

Palestinians in Gaza City have until October 7 to evacuate the south. Around 800,000 people are in the city, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times in the 22-month war. The IDF will then launch a siege to eliminate Hamas fighters before moving into other areas. Humanitarian aid is to be provided outside combat zones.

Ministers endorsed five conditions for ending the war: Hamas’s disarmament, the return of all 50 remaining hostages, Gaza’s demilitarisation, Israeli security control, and a post-war civilian government excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu has rejected any PA role, though he told Fox News that Arab forces would eventually take over governance.

IDF Chief Herzi Halevi Zamir warned: “The lives of the hostages will be in danger if we go ahead with this plan to occupy Gaza. There is no way to guarantee that we will not harm them. Our forces are worn out, the military tools need maintenance, and there are humanitarian and sanitary concerns.”

Hostage families condemned the move, staging protests in Tel Aviv. They argue military pressure has failed to secure releases and that Hamas no longer poses the same strategic threat as in October 2023.

Far-right ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, urged closing the door to negotiations. Netanyahu countered that the operation could be halted if Hamas accepted Israel’s demands, but warned that ending the war now would allow the group to regroup.

The war began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 60,000 in Gaza have died since, a figure Israel disputes. Israel reports killing 21,600 militants, with 459 of its own personnel lost in the campaign.

By Aghakazim Guliyev