In a move that has ignited a storm of controversy at home and abroad, Israel’s security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has approved a plan for the military to “take control” of Gaza City.
Nearly two years into the war, the decision comes at a time when pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to negotiate a truce—one that could rescue Gaza’s more than two million residents from famine and secure the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants.
Hamas, the group whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the conflict, has condemned the plan as a “new war crime,” warning that it will bring more suffering and cost Israel heavily.
The backlash hasn’t stopped at Gaza’s borders. Even Germany, a long-time ally of Israel, took the rare step of suspending military exports, fearing their use in Gaza. Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned how the move could possibly lead to peace. Other nations, including China, Turkey, Britain, and several Arab states, have voiced strong concern.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the plan risks “deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians.” The UN Security Council is set to meet urgently to discuss the matter.
Netanyahu insists the move is not about occupation, but about “freeing Gaza from Hamas” and setting up a peaceful civilian administration. But for many, these assurances ring hollow. Families of hostages say the decision abandons their loved ones, calling it “a march of recklessness.” Out of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s attack, 49 remain in captivity—27 of them believed dead.
Inside Gaza, fear and uncertainty have become a way of life. “They tell us to go south, then back north, and now south again,” says 52-year-old mother of six, Maysa al-Shanti. “We are human beings, but no one hears us or sees us.”
The humanitarian toll continues to rise. UN agencies warn famine is unfolding. The WHO says at least 99 people have died from malnutrition this year, a number likely underestimated. Even aid drops have turned deadly, with people injured or killed by falling supplies or in stampedes.
As the world watches, the question remains—will this strategy bring safety and stability, or push an already devastated region further into chaos?
