Israel Plans Military Control Over Gaza City Amid Ongoing Conflict

Israel's Strategic Move in Gaza

On Friday, Israel declared its intention to assume military control of Gaza City, marking a notable intensification in its prolonged conflict with the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are set to prepare for this operation while also providing humanitarian aid to civilians situated outside active combat zones, as stated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

This decision emerged from a late-night session of Israel's Security Cabinet, which, through a majority vote, outlined five fundamental principles that any resolution to the conflict would hinge upon.

These principles include the disarmament of Hamas, the return of all hostages, the complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, ongoing Israeli security oversight in the area, and the formation of a new civil administration that would exclude both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Despite the Security Cabinet's endorsement, the final decision still requires approval from the entire Israeli government, which may not convene until Sunday, according to reports from unnamed government officials.

A decisive majority of Security Cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan that had been submitted to the Security Cabinet would neither achieve the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 8, 2025

This announcement follows Netanyahu's comments during a Fox News interview on Thursday, where he expressed Israel's goal to take control of all Gaza to 'liberate' its inhabitants from Hamas.

However, he clarified that Israel does not intend to govern the territory. 'We don’t want to keep it,' he stated. 'We want to establish a security perimeter and hand it over to Arab forces that will manage it effectively.'

Israel's military campaign in Gaza commenced in October 2023 after Hamas's incursion into southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the taking of hostages. Since then, Israel has conducted extensive air and ground operations in Gaza, leading to over 61,000 fatalities.

Additionally, Israel has imposed a stringent blockade on humanitarian assistance, which UN officials warn has pushed the population to the brink of famine.

Ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing since July 6. Previous attempts to restore a temporary ceasefire that was in place in January have faltered due to significant disagreements between the parties.

On Thursday, approximately 24 individuals related to hostages held by Hamas set sail from Ashkelon in southern Israel towards Gaza's maritime border, using loudspeakers to call for a ceasefire and criticize the government for extending the conflict.

'Netanyahu is acting solely in his own interest,' said Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among those still captured in Gaza.

Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing an anonymous Israeli official, reported that the military plans to forcibly evacuate all civilians from Gaza City by October 7.

'A siege will be imposed on the Hamas militants remaining in Gaza City, while a ground offensive will also be executed there,' he added.