Early Friday morning local time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a plan for the Israeli military to take control of Gaza City.
The statement said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will prepare to seize Gaza City while ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians outside combat areas.
The cabinet agreed on five key principles to end the conflict: disarming Hamas, securing the return of all hostages (alive or deceased), demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, maintaining Israeli security control over Gaza, and establishing a new civilian government in Gaza that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
This decision follows Netanyahu’s remarks on Thursday that Israel plans to take over all of Gaza but does not intend to govern it. Instead, Israel aims to transfer control to “Arab forces.”
In a Fox News interview, Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s intention to control Gaza to secure its own safety, remove Hamas, and enable freedom for Gaza’s population. He emphasized that Israel does not want to govern Gaza but wants to hand over control to responsible Arab authorities that will provide security and improve living conditions for Gazans.
An expanded Israeli military presence in Gaza could trigger widespread international backlash and further isolate Israel, as its allies push for an end to the conflict amid humanitarian fears of famine in Gaza.
Recent attempts at ceasefire and hostage release talks between Israel and Hamas have collapsed, with both sides blaming each other.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told CBS News that negotiations have completely failed, accusing Hamas of not negotiating in good faith. He criticized European leaders for focusing more pressure on Israel than on Hamas, which he said is emboldened by the international response.
Huckabee noted that any decision on annexing Gaza lies solely with Israel. While the U.S. might offer advice if asked, the ultimate choice belongs to the Israeli government.
Source: CBS NEWS
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