Israel Approves Plan to Seize Gaza

JERUSALEM, May 9, 2025 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel’s security cabinet has approved a sweeping military operation to seize the entire Gaza Strip and maintain an indefinite presence, describing the offensive as “intensive.” The plan, which includes displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza, has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian organizations and raised fears of a deepening crisis in the war-torn enclave.

According to Sky News, Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces would shift from short-term raids to a strategy of “clear and hold,” ensuring troops remain in captured territories. “The intention is the opposite,” he said, rejecting past tactics of entering and exiting Gaza. The operation, dubbed “Gideon Chariots,” aims to defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack, though critics argue it prioritizes territorial control over negotiations.

The Israeli cabinet’s decision follows months of stalled ceasefire talks and a blockade that has choked aid to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Reuters reported that the offensive would involve moving civilians southward and controlling aid distribution to prevent Hamas from accessing supplies. The United Nations, however, rejected Israel’s proposal for aid hubs managed by private contractors, with Olga Cherevko of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs calling it a violation of “globally-established humanitarian principles.”

Netanyahu’s plan has sparked domestic and international backlash. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of the 59 remaining hostages, condemned the offensive, stating it “chooses territory over hostages” against the will of most Israelis, who favor a ceasefire deal. The Guardian highlighted concerns from hostage families that intensified military action could endanger captives, noting that past hostage releases occurred during truces.

Internationally, the operation has raised alarms about potential war crimes. The BBC reported that countries accusing Israel of violating international law will closely monitor the offensive, with South African lawyers citing extreme rhetoric from Israeli ministers as evidence in an International Court of Justice case alleging genocide. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a vocal ultranationalist, claimed Gaza would be “totally destroyed” within six months, with Palestinians left “despairing” and seeking relocation.

The offensive is set to begin after U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East visit from May 13-16, providing what Israeli officials call a “window of opportunity” for a last-ditch ceasefire. Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi rejected the plan as “political blackmail,” demanding a comprehensive deal including a full Israeli withdrawal and Gaza’s reconstruction.

Israel’s military has already seized roughly a third of Gaza, with buffer zones and security corridors displacing much of the population. The New York Times noted that the new plan involves a “forceful entry” and indefinite control, raising questions about Israel’s long-term governance of a hostile population. The Washington Post reported that the operation would confine Palestinians to “sterile zones” while troops target Hamas fighters and tunnels, potentially inching toward reoccupation.

As Gaza faces its third month of a total aid blockade, the UN warns of imminent famine. Palestinians like Ahmed Shehata, a 76-year-old Gaza City resident, told the BBC they would rather die than face another forced displacement. “We lived through unbearable conditions in what Israel claimed was a ‘safe zone,’” he said. “This time, we will not leave.”

The operation’s approval has also fueled protests in Israel, with reservists refusing duty and critics accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political survival. The Guardian’s Yair Wallach argued that the announcement might be “strategic bluster” to reshape domestic and international narratives, though the government’s reliance on hardline parties pushing for Gaza’s reoccupation suggests deeper ambitions.

With global scrutiny intensifying, the coming weeks will test Israel’s resolve and the international community’s response to a plan that could reshape Gaza’s future—and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict—for years to come.

Sources:

• Sky News:

• Reuters:

• The New York Times:

• The Guardian:

• BBC News:,

• The Washington Post:

• France 24:

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