Israel’s security cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to occupy Gaza City, which has sparked backlash from Texas Democrats. The decision marks the first phase of an offensive that could eventually extend across the entire Gaza Strip.
“The security cabinet approved the prime minister's proposal to defeat Hamas. The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said.
Speaking to Fox News, Prime Minister Netanyahu outlined the broader plan, explaining, “we intend to control all of Gaza. We don't want to keep Gaza. We want a security perimeter. We want to hand Gaza over to Arab forces that will govern Gaza properly.”
The IDF is expected to issue eviction orders to roughly 1 million Palestinians in Gaza City and its surroundings ahead of the operation, relocating them to central camps by October 7.
A senior Israeli official said the goal is to “impose a siege on the Hamas militants who remain in Gaza City” before launching a ground offensive.
The decision, however, faced opposition from within the cabinet.
IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir warned the operation could endanger hostages and saddle Israel with direct responsibility for Gaza’s 2 million residents. Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich similarly voted against the plan, objecting to humanitarian aid and calling for the offensive to continue regardless of hostage negotiations.
The cabinet adopted five war-ending principles, including disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, and maintaining Israeli security control over Gaza post-war alongside establishing an alternative civilian government “neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.”
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D) took to social media to comment on the announcement, declaring that “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the Israeli government.”
Noting that “people are starving right now,” Rep. Escobar added that “providing food, water, and medical aid should be Israel’s priority – not enforcing an illegal and brutal occupation.”
“What’s happening is a humanitarian catastrophe created by the Israeli government, and it cannot stand.”
