Netanyahu’s Gaza city seizure plan triggers wave of global and domestic criticism

The decision came after more than 10 hours of deliberations in the security cabinet and was described as the first stage of an operation that could ultimately lead to the complete occupation of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military.

According to U.S. officials, Donald Trump has decided not to intervene in the matter, allowing Israel to make its own independent decisions.

Israeli officials stated that before launching the new operation, the army intends to issue an evacuation order for roughly one million Palestinians living in Gaza City and surrounding areas.

Before the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu told Fox News: “We intend to take control of all of Gaza. Our goal is not to keep Gaza, but to create a security buffer and hand over the administration of Gaza to Arab forces that can manage it properly.”

The new operation, which includes occupying central areas of Gaza — including Gaza City — is expected to last several months and could lead to the displacement of around one million Palestinian civilians.

Despite mounting international pressure to halt the fighting and prioritize the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Netanyahu is determined to escalate the war.

In their first reaction, the Palestinian Resistance Committees called the Israeli cabinet’s decision a major defeat for the regime. In a statement, they said the security council’s decision to occupy Gaza exposes “the enemy’s crisis, political and operational weakness, and its great failure,” showing that the regime has not achieved any of its goals.

The statement added: “Netanyahu’s criminal war decisions to occupy Gaza are a clear blueprint for genocide and for continuing war crimes, destruction, killings, and massacres.”

The Israeli cabinet’s move has drawn criticism from domestic groups within Israel and even from some of its allies.

According to Israeli media, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi’s deputy, Eyal Zamir, was one of the first to oppose the plan, warning that it could endanger the lives of about 20 hostages believed to still be alive, exhaust Israeli forces, and undermine Israel’s international legitimacy.

Al Jazeera reported that Zamir instead proposed tightening the blockade of Gaza without a large-scale mobilization of reserve forces. Earlier this week, Israel’s public broadcaster reported that a heated verbal clash broke out between Netanyahu and Zamir during Monday’s cabinet session, with Zamir telling the prime minister: “Occupying Gaza is a strategic trap and a danger to the lives of the hostages.”

Families of Israeli captives in Gaza also condemned the cabinet’s decision, saying: “The cabinet has signed the death warrants of the kidnapped (living hostages) and denied any chance of recovering the dead (the bodies of slain hostages).”

They stressed that the decision to occupy the Gaza Strip is essentially “an official declaration of abandoning and giving up on the Israeli captives in Gaza.”

Opposition party criticism

Opposition party leaders in Israel also criticized Netanyahu’s security cabinet decision, calling it a threat to the future of the occupied territories and to the lives of the hostages in Gaza.

Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party, criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for pushing Netanyahu toward an action “that will take months and lead to the deaths of hostages and many soldiers.”

Lapid added: “This is exactly what Hamas wanted — Israel trapped on the ground without a goal, without a vision for the future, in an aimless occupation that no one knows where it will end.”

Yair Golan, head of the Democratic Party, said the cabinet’s decision, taken against the advice of the IDF chief of staff, is “a disaster for future generations and a death sentence for the hostages.”

He added: “We must intensify efforts against Netanyahu’s government; bringing it down will save lives.”

Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party, said: “Once again, Netanyahu is sacrificing the security of Israeli citizens in order to stay in power.”

International condemnation: From the UN to China and the UK

The decision has sparked criticism and condemnation from international bodies and numerous countries.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the plan violates the ruling of the International Court of Justice and must be halted immediately. He urged Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza, for Palestinian groups to release hostages unconditionally, and for Israel to free Palestinians held in arbitrary detention.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also called the decision a mistake and urged Tel Aviv to reconsider, stating: “The Israeli government’s decision to intensify its attacks in Gaza is wrong. We call on it to immediately reconsider. This will not help end the conflict or free the hostages — it will only lead to more bloodshed.”

China also expressed serious concern about the plan to occupy Gaza, calling on Israel to immediately halt its dangerous actions.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told AFP: “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory.”

Separately, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the displacement of Gaza’s population as a violation of international law and stressed the need for a two-state solution.

In a statement, Wong said: “We call on Israel not to place Gaza under military control, as this will worsen the humanitarian catastrophe. Forced displacement is a violation of international law. We call for a cessation of hostilities, the delivery of aid, and the release of hostages. A two-state solution is the only path to lasting peace in the region.”