The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will convene his security cabinet on Thursday evening to discuss Gaza war expansion plan, reported Reuters.
Netanyahu is considering the full military takeover of the Gaza Strip amid mounting domestic and international criticism over the 22-month devastating war that has put the enclave on the brink of famine.
War Expansion Plan
The security cabinet meeting follows a tense meeting with the Israeli military Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, who reportedly opposes Netanyahu’s plan.
Israeli media reported that Netanyahu wants the “occupation of Gaza,” trying to garner his cabinet’s support for “the full conquest of the Strip.
Meanwhile, Zamir opposes the Prime Minister’s plan to expand ground operations in areas where hostages are held, as this puts their lives at risk and further strains the army.
Israeli officials believe that Hamas is holding 50 hostages in Gaza, only 20 of whom are still alive. Both Hamas and Israel had several rounds of indirect talks to reach a ceasefire and release some of the hostages, but negotiations collapsed in July.
On Wednesday, the Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said that the military would execute the government’s decisions until all war objectives were met. Israel’s stated war goals include the disarmament of Hamas, its exclusion from any future role in governing the demilitarized Strip, and the release of the remaining hostages.
Worsening Conditions
Currently, the Israeli military occupies over 75% of the Gaza Strip. The new plan will allow it to take control of the entire enclave, which suffers a catastrophic humanitarian situation and a looming famine.
The widespread malnutrition and starvation have claimed the lives of 197 Palestinians, including 96 children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Meanwhile, the war in Gaza has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, including over 1,700 aid seekers.
UN Alarm over War Plans
Commenting on the Gaza takeover reports, the UN voiced its deep alarm at a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza on Tuesday. The UN Assistant Secretary-General, Miroslav Jenca, noted that this move “would risk catastrophic consequences … and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza.”
He added that according to international law, “Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state.”
Families’ Opposition
Netanyahu’s plan has also sparked alarm among the families of the hostages, who urged Zamir to reject the expansion of military operations and demanded the government to accept a ceasefire deal that would end the war and return the hostages.
With regards to this, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Sunday warned the Israeli government against expanding military operations in Gaza.
“Netanyahu is preparing the greatest deception of all. The repeated claims of freeing hostages through military victory are a lie and a public fraud,” the forum said.
Planned Protests
In response to Netanyahu’s plan, the hostages’ families planned demonstrations across Israel on Thursday evening to protest the expected decision, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Meanwhile, around 24 of the hostages’ relatives on Thursday morning embarked on a voyage from southern Israel toward the maritime border with Gaza, broadcasting messages from loudspeakers on boats to their relatives held in the enclave.
The families of the hostages denounced the war expansion plan, accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war to serve his political interests and satisfy his far-right coalition allies.
