Israel’s Security Cabinet greenlights full Gaza takeover to crush Hamas, despite IDF chief’s warning of grave risks to hostages and soldiers.
In a dramatic overnight session lasting more than 10 hours, Israel’s Security Cabinet has voted to approve Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to take full control of Gaza, marking the most decisive escalation yet in the ongoing war against Hamas.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office declared:
“The Security Cabinet has officially approved the Prime Minister’s proposal to decisively defeat Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces will prepare to take control of Gaza City while simultaneously providing humanitarian aid to civilian populations outside combat zones.”
Five Principles for Ending the War
By a strong majority, ministers adopted a framework designed to secure total victory over Hamas:
- Complete disarmament of Hamas.
- Return of all hostages—living and deceased.
- Full demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
- Permanent Israeli security control over Gaza.
- Creation of a new civilian administration—neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
The Cabinet’s statement noted that most ministers dismissed alternative proposals as insufficient to dismantle Hamas or secure the hostages’ release.
Military Warnings vs. Political Resolve
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir voiced deep concern, warning that the lives of hostages could be in even greater jeopardy if Israeli forces storm Gaza. He also cautioned about heavy soldier casualties, equipment depletion, and severe humanitarian fallout.
Zamir pushed back against claims that Operation Gideon’s Chariots had failed, saying:
“We have created the conditions for the return of the hostages.”
Shas leader Aryeh Deri, though not a voting minister, sided with the military’s caution, warning of the political damage the war was causing and urging Netanyahu to heed the generals’ advice.
Netanyahu, however, stressed flexibility:
“The operation is not irreversible. We are prepared to consider a pause if Hamas agrees to Israel’s conditions.”
But National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir took a harder line:
“We must go all the way.”
With this vote, Israel now stands on the brink of a full-scale ground operation in Gaza City—one that could shape the region’s security landscape for years to come.
