Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel will take over the Gaza Strip

Israel will take control of the entire Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, a risky gamble that defies international pressure to end the war and lacks broad domestic support.

Hamas responded by warning that the plan meant Netanyahu was willing to “sacrifice” the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza to serve “his personal interests”. The UN has warned that a complete military takeover would risk “catastrophic consequences” for Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages.

However US ambassador Mike Huckabee said it was up to the Israel to decide whether to annex Gaza, adding in an interview with CBS that Palestinians “shouldn’t be forced out”. This marks a more friendly shift toward Palestine from the US, in addition to President Trump saying that the US will send more aid to Gaza.

Israeli media say Netanyahu sees taking over Gaza as the only way to destroy Hamas and free hostages still held by the group following the breakdown of ceasefire talks. The Israeli military currently controls about three-quarters of Gaza. The vast majority of Gaza’s population has already been displaced by the war and many more would be uprooted if the army takes over remaining areas.

The security cabinet of top government ministers are meeting on Thursday evening. Just before they were due to convene, Fox News asked Netanyahu, in a sit-down interview, “will Israel take control of all of Gaza?”

“We intend to,” Netanyahu replied, “in order to ensure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza [Hamas], and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and is not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel.”

Reports say the plan initially focuses on taking full control of Gaza City, relocating its one million residents further south. Forces would also take control of refugee camps in central Gaza and areas where hostages are thought to be held.

Reports say a second offensive would follow weeks later in parallel with a boost in humanitarian aid.