Israel’s Gaza City Occupation Plan Sparks Global Outcry and Domestic Turmoil
Israel has approved a plan to occupy Gaza City, prompting widespread condemnation and concerns. The decision, backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet, involves the capture of the northern area of the Strip by Israeli security forces, with governance to be transferred to unspecified ‘Arab forces.’ This move has drawn strong international criticism and prompted domestic backlash in Israel.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the plan, warning of its humanitarian consequences. The UN’s office emphasized that the Israeli government’s actions could lead to additional forced displacement, killings, and massive destruction. Similarly, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged an immediate halt to the military takeover of the Gazan territory.
All the major Palestinian factions have condemned the Israeli announcement. Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, criticized the plan as a ‘complete crime,’ which risks exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Hamas warned that capturing Gaza City would mean sacrificing Israeli hostages, adding to the existing tensions. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another significant militant faction, said the occupation plan represents a new stage in the war of extermination.
Multiple Western nations, excluding the United States, have condemned the plan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Israel to reconsider the move, while EU Council head Antonio Costa suggested that the decision could lead to consequences for EU-Israel relations. Germany, a key strategic ally of Israel, has suspended arms supplies to Israel as a response to the plan.
Domestically, the decision has caused unrest in Israel. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu for yielding to pressure from far-right ministers and warned of the potential consequences. The cabinet’s decision has also reignited protests led by the families of Israeli hostages, who are urging the government to end the hostilities and secure the release of the captives through diplomatic means.