Gaza City takeover plan raises alarm

Israel's security cabinet on Friday approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intended to take military control of the entire strip. It marked another escalation of a 22-month offensive, despite Palestinian rejection and intensifying criticism at home and abroad.

"The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

Two Israeli officials told Reuters that any resolution by the security cabinet would need to be approved by the whole government cabinet, which may not meet until Sunday.

Gaza City is the largest city in the enclave. It was unclear whether Netanyahu was foreseeing a prolonged takeover or a short-term operation. Israel has repeatedly said it aims to dismantle Hamas and free Israeli hostages.

In response, Hamas called Netanyahu's comments "a blatant coup" against the negotiation process. "Netanyahu's plans to expand the aggression confirm beyond any doubt that he seeks to get rid of his captives and sacrifice them," Hamas said in a statement.

Arab countries would "only support what Palestinians agree and decide on", a Jordanian official told Reuters, adding that security in Gaza should be handled through "legitimate Palestinian institutions".

Netanyahu on Thursday said in an interview, "we intend to", when asked if Israel would take over the entire coastal territory. He added that Israel did not want "to keep" the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied in 1967 but withdrew troops and settlers from in 2005.

He said Israel wanted to hand over the territory to Arab forces that would govern it. He did not elaborate on the governance arrangements or which Arab countries could be involved.

But many Israelis believe that Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict to guarantee the survival of his coalition, which relies on the support of ultranationalist ministers who have threatened to quit the government if there is any deal with Hamas.

The plans to expand the conflict have sparked growing concern in Israel about what it means for the remaining hostages. Opinion polls show most Israelis want the fighting to end in a deal that would see the release of the remaining hostages.

According to the Maariv newspaper, the "prevailing assessment is that most and possibly all of the living hostages (will) die" during an expanded offensive, either killed by their captors or accidentally by Israeli soldiers.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid denounced the cabinet's move on Friday, calling it "a disaster that will lead to many other disasters".

He said on X that the plan would result in "the death of the hostages, the killing of many soldiers, cost Israeli taxpayers tens of billions, and lead to diplomatic bankruptcy".

Outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, hundreds of demonstrators protested against an expanded offensive, demanding an immediate end to the campaign in return for the release of all hostages.

Deep frustration

Protesters held signs bearing the faces of hostages still held in Gaza and voiced deep frustration with the government's handling of the crisis.

"I'm here because I am sick and tired of this government. It ruined our life," said 55-year-old Noa Starkman, a Jerusalem resident.

On Friday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that "the Israeli government's plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted".

Also on the day, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Israel "not to go down this path".

Australia has not yet joined Western allies such as the United Kingdom, Canada and France in announcing it would recognize Palestinian statehood, but has said it would make a decision "at an appropriate time" while escalating its criticism of Israel's actions.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, the UK's junior energy minister, said on Friday that Britain hopes Israel will reconsider its decision to take control of Gaza City.

"We think that decision is the wrong decision, and we hope that the Israeli government will reconsider it," she said on Times Radio.

Reacting to Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that Germany will halt the export of military equipment to Israel which could be used in the Gaza Strip.

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.

cuihaipei@chinadaily.com.cn