On August 7, 2025, Israel’s political-security cabinet approved a plan to take military control of Gaza City, escalating its nearly two-year-long war in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would prepare to seize the city while ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians outside combat zones. This decision has sparked intense debate, both within Israel and globally, as the war’s devastating toll continues to grow.
Netanyahu’s Vision: Security Without Governance
In a Fox News interview, Netanyahu outlined Israel’s intentions: to take control of the entire 26-mile Gaza Strip, eliminate the Hamas terror group, and secure the release of approximately 20 living hostages still held in Gaza. However, he emphasized that Israel does not want to govern the territory. Instead, the plan is to establish a “security perimeter” and hand over civilian governance to unspecified “Arab forces” that would manage Gaza without threatening Israel’s security. Netanyahu explicitly ruled out any role for the Palestinian Authority (PA) or Hamas in this new administration.
“We want to liberate ourselves and the people of Gaza from the awful terror of Hamas,” Netanyahu told Fox News, denying any intent to cause civilian suffering. He claimed that flattened buildings in Gaza result from Hamas’s tactics, such as booby-trapping structures and building underground tunnels that collapse when detonated. Israel, he said, has issued evacuation orders to minimize civilian casualties and is working to provide humanitarian aid, including food, water, and medical supplies, to safe zones.
A Divisive Strategy
The decision to expand military control over Gaza City has met with resistance. Israel’s military chief has reportedly pushed back against broadening the campaign, and opinion polls show that most Israelis prefer a deal to secure the release of hostages over further escalation. Internationally, the plan risks further isolating Israel, as allies urge an end to the war amid growing concerns about famine and humanitarian crises in Gaza. Arab states, while open to aiding Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, insist on the PA’s involvement to support a two-state solution—an option Netanyahu rejects.
Hamas has outright dismissed Israel’s plan, and Jordan has stated it will only accept decisions on Gaza’s future that have Palestinian approval. Critics argue that Netanyahu’s refusal to propose a viable alternative to Hamas has prolonged the conflict, allowing the terror group to remain a dominant force in Gaza.
The Bigger Picture
Israel currently controls about 75% of Gaza but has avoided areas where hostages are believed to be held and has not established civilian governance over the population. The cabinet’s plan includes five key principles: disarming Hamas, securing the return of all hostages (living and dead), demilitarizing Gaza, maintaining Israeli security control, and establishing a non-Hamas, non-PA civilian government.
Netanyahu insists the war could end quickly if Hamas surrenders and releases the hostages, claiming that even some Palestinians in Gaza are resisting the terror group. However, ceasefire and hostage release negotiations have collapsed, with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee blaming Hamas for not negotiating in good faith. He noted that European leaders’ focus on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, rather than the hostages, has emboldened Hamas.
What’s Next?
As Israel prepares to take Gaza City, the international community watches closely. The plan to hand over governance to Arab forces remains vague, with no clear candidates stepping forward due to Netanyahu’s rejection of the PA. The war’s devastating impact—described as leaving Gaza in ruins—continues to fuel calls for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the fate of the hostages and Gaza’s future hangs in the balance, with no easy resolution in sight.
This bold move by Israel raises critical questions: Can security be achieved without a clear plan for governance? And will the international community support a strategy that sidesteps Palestinian leadership? As the conflict evolves, the answers will shape the region’s future.