Israel will escalate the war in Gaza by seeking to take control of the devastated enclave’s most populated city under plans approved by the country’s security cabinet in a marathon meeting, shunning global calls for a ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined his ambitions to conquer the entirety of the Gaza Strip to defeat Hamas, a listed terror group in Australia, on Friday, but the stated plan centres on an initial military operation to take over Gaza City as the next step toward broader goals.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was not Israel’s ambition to keep control of Gaza. Credit: AP
The security cabinet set out five principles after a contested vote and decided the Israel Defence Forces would pursue security control over the Gaza Strip before one day ensuring a new civil government take over the enclave.
“The [Israel Defence Forces] will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
The plan, which has drawn heated criticism from Netanyahu’s main political opponents in Israel, could take months to come into effect.
Israeli media outlets have reported that the military takeover of Gaza City may not occur until after the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks, following the dispersal of civilians to other areas.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Australian government opposed the plans.
“Australia calls on Israel to not go down this path, which will only worsen the hum
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