TEL AVIV/GAZA — Israel’s cabinet may approve a full-scale military takeover of the Gaza Strip for the first time in nearly 20 years, according to Israeli media reports, despite mounting international calls for a ceasefire to alleviate the deepening humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Channel 12 reported on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leaning toward authorizing an expanded offensive aimed at capturing the entire territory, following the apparent collapse of indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. A senior Israeli official also told Reuters that “increased force” remains a serious option.
Such a move would mark a dramatic reversal of Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, when it dismantled settlements and pulled out troops, though it retained control over the territory’s borders. That disengagement has long been blamed by Israel’s far-right for enabling Hamas to rise to power.
It remains unclear whether the proposed move would result in long-term military occupation or a short-term operation aimed at dismantling Hamas and rescuing hostages. Israel’s military has expressed skepticism about a full occupation, warning it would require a permanent presence and extensive resources — something the IDF is already struggling with due to repeated reserve call-ups and stretched manpower.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn widespread global condemnation. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, along with legal experts, have characterized Israel’s ongoing military campaign as a “genocide”, a charge strongly rejected by Tel Aviv.
The war, which began after Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages, has led to the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza.
Israel’s prolonged bombardment and ground operations have displaced nearly all of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents. Global hunger monitors have warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, prompting a growing number of European nations to consider recognizing a Palestinian state if a ceasefire is not achieved soon.
On Tuesday, Israeli tanks pushed into central Gaza, though it remained unclear whether the move marked the beginning of a larger ground offensive. In ongoing strikes and gunfire, at least 13 Palestinians were killed, including five people in a tent in Khan Younis and three more near Rafah as they sought humanitarian aid.
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Residents in the few remaining areas not yet subjected to full Israeli ground incursions expressed fear of complete annihilation.
“If the tanks come, where do we run—into the sea?” asked Abu Jehad, a wood merchant in Gaza. “It would be a death sentence for everyone left.”
A Palestinian official familiar with the ongoing negotiations described Israel’s threats as pressure tactics intended to coerce Hamas into concessions. However, he warned that such strategies could backfire, stating:
“The resistance will not accept anything short of a full withdrawal and an end to the war.”
In a rare gesture, Israeli authorities said they would permit the entry of some commercial goods into Gaza. Sources confirmed that a few trucks carrying chocolates and biscuits for merchants had already crossed into the territory. Locals hope that this step signals the eventual arrival of essential supplies, including baby formula, meat, sugar, rice, and fruit — all of which remain either unaffordable or unavailable.