Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to seize Gaza City, located in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The news was first reported on Friday by the U.S. media outlet Axios.
In its report, Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing the Prime Minister’s Office, wrote: “The Political-Security Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister’s proposal to defeat Hamas. The Israeli military will prepare to take control of Gaza City while simultaneously arranging humanitarian aid for ordinary Palestinians outside the battlefield.”
According to a senior Israeli official, there are plans to evacuate all Palestinians from Gaza City to central camps and other locations by October 7. Afterwards, Hamas fighters remaining in the city will be besieged and subjected to a ground offensive.
Al Jazeera journalist Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Washington, stated that indications of this move to capture Gaza have been apparent for several days. U.S. President Donald Trump has effectively given the green light to Netanyahu’s plan.
In an interview with Fox News the previous day, Netanyahu said Israel aims to take full control of Gaza but does not intend to establish a government there. Instead, Israel plans to build a security fence and hand over control to a third party.