Israel says it will take control of Gaza City, marking a sharp escalation in its nearly two-year war with Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced early Friday that the military will prepare to seize the enclave’s largest city while distributing aid to civilians outside combat zones. The plan also aims to disarm Hamas, secure the release of all hostages, demilitarize the Gaza Strip, and place it under Israeli control—before eventually handing governance to an unnamed Arab authority.
The move follows reports of a large troop and equipment buildup along the Gaza border, fueling speculation of a fresh ground offensive.
The war began after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack killed 1,200 people in Israel and took around 250 hostages. Israeli operations have since killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to local health officials, and humanitarian agencies warn famine is now unfolding under aid restrictions.
Criticism has been swift. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the decision a “disaster” that could drag on for months, kill remaining hostages, and collapse Israel’s diplomatic standing. Western allies including the U.K. and Australia condemned the move, while Turkey accused Israel of pursuing “expansionist and genocidal” policies.
Hostage families protested overnight, fearing the assault will endanger loved ones still in Gaza. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds.
Netanyahu told Fox News Israel does not intend to govern Gaza long-term, but wants to “remove Hamas” and pass the territory to Arab forces “that will govern it properly without threatening us.”
Hamas official Osama Hamdan dismissed the plan, saying Israel “will fail” to break Palestinian resistance.
Meanwhile, aid groups accuse the Israeli- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation of dangerous aid distribution practices. Doctors Without Borders called the system “orchestrated killing,” an allegation GHF rejected as “false and disgraceful.”
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