The war in Gaza has been raging for 22 months (Image: Getty)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has unveiled his strategy to assume complete control over the Gaza Strip during a Fox News interview broadcast on Thursday morning, delivering a stark three-word response that has sent shockwaves across the region.
When questioned about Israel’s intentions regarding Gaza control, the interviewer pressed: “You will go immediately into a meeting with your security cabinet. Will Israel take control of all of Gaza?”.
“We intend to,” Netanyahu replied decisively. He justified the proposed annexation as necessary “in order to assure” Israeli security whilst seeking to “remove Hamas there” and “enable the population to be free of Gaza.
“That’s what we want to do,” the prime minister declared. “We want to liberate ourselves and liberate the people of Gaza from the awful terror of Hamas.”
Netanyahu confronts fierce criticism over Gaza occupation strategy.
Read more: ‘Hamas has already won crucial part of Israel war – and the West is oblivious’
Read more: Hamas is paying out £5m to top officials despite Gaza war
Gaza takeover
This marks not the first occasion Netanyahu has proposed a comprehensive takeover of the Gaza Strip. Just 48 hours earlier, reports emerged suggesting he was contemplating a complete reoccupation of Gaza – a decision that would provoke substantial opposition both domestically and internationally.
Such a move would represent one of the most dramatic escalations in the nearly two-year conflict within the territory, which has already suffered extensive devastation. A humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in Gaza, with famine conditions persisting.
The families of hostages in Israel fear that an invasion would spell doom for their loved ones, with much of the security establishment also reportedly against such a prolonged occupation, fearing it would embroil and tarnish the Israeli Defense Force’s reputation.
The notion of occupying Gaza might be a political manoeuvre to Netanyahu’s advantage.
The looming threat to occupy Gaza could be a strategic ploy designed to leverage Hamas following the collapse of peace negotiations last month, facilitated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar.
Netanyahu laid out his plan to seize control of Gaza (Image: Getty)
Political move
Netanyahu might also see this as an opportunity to consolidate support from his far-right coalition partners, who have long advocated for an intensification of the conflict, including reclaiming Gaza.
Their agenda includes encouraging mass voluntary emigration and reestablishing Jewish settlements, which were removed when Israel pulled out of the area in 2005.
Yet, the decision ultimately hinges on one influential figure – U.S. President Donald Trump. When quizzed on Tuesday about whether he believes Israel should retake Gaza, he admitted ignorance of the “suggestion” but noted that “it’s going to be pretty much up to Israel.”
Thursday morning reports suggest that a high-ranking U.S. official informed Axios that Trump has backtracked on his stance, stating he doesn’t necessarily endorse the takeover – however, these reports are yet to be confirmed.
A full occupation of Gaza would necessitate ground operations by the IDF (Image: AP)
Ground invasion
A full occupation of Gaza would necessitate ground operations by the IDF in some of the most densely populated regions of the territory – including the remaining areas not yet decimated by Israeli bombings.
The majority of the area’s 2 million Palestinians have sought sanctuary in these regions. The central city of Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, a designated humanitarian zone where hundreds of thousands reside in dismal tent camps along the coast, is one of the areas the IDF would need to invade.
Such operations would trigger another wave of mass displacement and further hinder aid deliveries by U.N. agencies and humanitarian organisations – which are already battling to alleviate the widespread famine engulfing the region.
Israel currently controls approximately 75% of the territory, which has been declared a buffer zone or placed under evacuation orders. With Israel also largely sealing off Gaza’s borders, it remains unclear where civilians are expected to go.
Hostages at risk from Gaza occupation.
The starvation crisis in Gaza has become worse in recent weeks (Image: AP)
Hostage threat
The occupation of Gaza would pose a significant threat to the remaining 20 living hostages, who are likely being held in tunnels or other undisclosed locations.
It is suspected that Iran-backed Hamas has instructed its guards to execute the hostages if Israeli forces approach. During the assault on 7 October 2023, militants led by Hamas kidnapped 251 individuals, an act which ignited the war after approximately 1,200 people were killed, the majority of whom were civilians.
Currently, 50 hostages remain in captivity, but it is believed that less than half are still alive. Recent footage depicts gaunt captives begging for their lives, with hostage Evyatar David being coerced into digging his own grave.
Israel’s counter-offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.