Israel Approves Military Takeover of Gaza City

Israel’s security cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for the Israeli military to take control of Gaza City, escalating a 22-month conflict that began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. The plan, which focuses on Gaza City rather than the entire Gaza Strip, aims to remove Hamas and eventually transfer control to friendly Arab forces, but details on future governance remain unclear. Concerns from Israeli generals and hostage families center on the risk to approximately 20 hostages and the strain on military resources, while humanitarian organizations warn of worsening famine and mass civilian displacement among Gaza's 2 million residents. Arab neighbors and critics argue that any governance not agreed by Palestinians would be viewed as occupation. Cabinet conditions for ending the war include the return of all hostages, Gaza’s demilitarization, and a new civilian government not tied to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. The operation is expected to deepen Israel’s international isolation and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.