Israel’s security cabinet has approved a sweeping plan to take full military control of Gaza City and the wider Gaza Strip, a move Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced amid an intensifying conflict that has devastated the besieged territory.
The decision has drawn sharp rebukes across the Arab world, with regional leaders warning the operation will deepen the humanitarian crisis, risk mass displacement and undermine any prospects for peace.
Newsweek has reach out to the Israeli Foreign Ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Gaza, weakened by years of blockade and assaults, now faces a deepening crisis. The planned occupation could worsen shortages of food, water and medical care amid collapsing infrastructure.
Israel says the operation aims to dismantle Hamas‘s militant network and end rocket attacks and hostage-taking. But Arab nations see it as a continuation of policies that are eroding Palestinian rights, warning it could fuel regional instability.
A Region Reacts
Hamas
Since the October 7, 2023, attacks—when Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israeli communities—the conflict has spiraled into a devastating war.
In response to the Israeli plan, Hamas said the seizure of Gaza City would be a dangerous escalation that deliberately risks the lives of hostages held there. The group accused Netanyahu’s government of showing blatant disregard for the captives, warning that the decision to occupy Gaza is essentially a death sentence for those being held.
Hamas portrays the move as part of a wider campaign of Israeli aggression aimed at crushing Palestinian resistance and erasing their sovereignty.
Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank condemned Israel’s plan as “a complete crime,” calling it part of an ongoing campaign of “genocide, systematic killing, starvation and siege,” according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
President Mahmoud Abbas warned that the operation would cause an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.” He repeated pleas for urgent international intervention.
Egypt
Egypt issued a sharp rebuke, denouncing the plan as “inadmissible.” Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty rejected Israel’s decision to expand military operations and seize control of Gaza, calling it “extremely dangerous” and warning it would intensify the enclave’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia strongly denounced the Israeli strategy, accusing the occupying authorities of persistent “crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians. Riyadh reaffirmed its support for Palestinian rights and condemned Israel’s conduct as a violation of human rights.
Iran
Iran condemned the plan as a sign of Israel’s intent to ethnically cleanse Gaza and commit “genocide.”
“This decision constitutes a grave violation of international law and a deliberate attempt to expand occupation and impose new realities across the occupied Palestinian territories by force and military aggression,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said a statement released on Saturday.
“Undoubtedly, the renewed displacement of Palestinians is categorically condemned,” Tehran said.
Qatar
Qatar warned that Israel’s decision risks escalating violence and worsening the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. It urged swift international action to prevent the plan’s implementation and to revive ceasefire efforts.
Jordan
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the plan as a serious breach of international law that undermines the two-state solution and the Palestinian right to an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to a statement.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE cautioned that the Israeli move will cause “catastrophic consequences,” worsening civilian suffering. It called on the United Nations and global powers to intervene, framing Palestinian rights as a moral and legal imperative.
What Happens Next
With Israel advancing plans to occupy Gaza City, diplomatic tensions across the Middle East are set to rise. Arab governments are expected to escalate calls for urgent humanitarian aid and political intervention.
The worsening humanitarian conditions, combined with escalating violence, increase the risk of prolonged conflict and regional destabilization. The international community now faces intense pressure to respond as the situation on the ground grows ever more precarious.
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