Israeli Prime Minister approves plan to occupy Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly approved plan to occupy the Gaza strip. Israel with control of about 75 percent of the territory already would be convening a Security Cabinet meeting to discuss the next step in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s decision will see the expansion of Israeli military operations across the entire strip, including areas where Israeli’s captives are being held.
According to Fox news, an undisclosed source speaking to a prominent Israeli journalist stated that any further delay by Israel to immediately drive the machinery of occupation into the Gaza strip will result in Israeli hostages starving to death, as Hamas remains unwilling to release the hostages.
“Hamas will not release hostages without total surrender. If we do not operate now, the hostages will die of starvation and Gaza will stay under control of Hamas. The mandate for a deal was broad but we did not get agreement, so we will go for occupation,” the source said.
Netanyahu had also informed the government of a Security Cabinet meeting later in the week to liaise with the Israel Defense Forces on the trajectory to attaining their war objectives.
In an interview with Fox News, Dov Hikind, founder of America Against Antisemitism, was optimistic that the proposal to occupy Gaza would be approved by the Israeli Cabinet, stating that Isreal has no choice but to finish the job and return the hostages to their homes.
“I believe it will be approved by the Cabinet and Israel has absolutely no choice. There was a deal on the table, Israel was prepared to make concessions to get back some of the hostages, and Hamas, with the support that it is getting from radicals all over the world are demanding to keep their weapons and being able to control Gaza into the future.
“That is impossible. That can never happen. The leaders of Hamas, in reference to what happened on Oct 7 said: ‘we will do it again and again.’ And we can believe Hamas when they say that. Israel really has no choice. I wish they would just finish the job that they started a long time ago; do whatever they can to bring the hostages home, and most importantly, destroy this nasty organization Hamas, remove them from power in Gaza; that is the only solution,” he said.
Speaking on the safety of the hostages in a case of a full-scale occupation which may result in casualties, Hikind noted: “Of course we are concerned. There is no question about that, but the Prime Minister of Israel represents the country and the future of the country. I will not want to be in the shoes of the Prime Minister, and the choices that he needs to make for the future of the people of Israel.
“We don’t want to see what happened on oct 7 happen again, and if Hamas remains in power, that is what will happen; if we follow the French, the English and the rest of the world who are talking about ceasefire. What does ceasefire mean? It means victory for Hamas and that cannot happen.”
The Trump administration in the United States has also expressed desire for a total deal which include releasing all Israeli hostages by Hamas. The administration has rejected any kind of piecemeal deal, as only that would give room for any future talks of diplomacy.
According to Aljazeera, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the reported plans, while calling on the international community to “intervene urgently to prevent their implementation, whether they are a form of pressure, trial balloons to gauge international reactions, or genuinely serious.”
