Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seize Gaza City as part of a broader campaign to “defeat Hamas,” according to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday, August 7. The move marks a significant escalation in Israel’s nearly two-year-long war on Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
“The IDF will prepare for the takeover of Gaza City while ensuring the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” the statement said.
The announcement comes amid a deepening humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of Palestinians already killed, the majority of Gaza reduced to rubble, and over 2 million residents facing widespread famine.
Netanyahu had hinted at the decision in a Fox News interview ahead of the Cabinet meeting, stating Israel intends to retake full control of Gaza “to assure our security and remove Hamas.”
“We don’t want to keep it,” Netanyahu added. “We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us.”
However, Israel’s top military commander, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, reportedly warned that occupying Gaza City would risk the lives of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages believed to be alive and strain an already overstretched military. Families of hostages protested outside the meeting in Jerusalem, accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing political goals over the safety of captives.
Gaza City remains one of the few areas in the enclave not fully under Israeli evacuation or military buffer control. Repeated bombings and raids have forced mass displacements, yet many civilians returned during a brief ceasefire earlier this year.
A full-scale ground operation could further displace tens of thousands and disrupt the delivery of critical aid. At least 42 Palestinians were killed Thursday alone in Israeli strikes across southern Gaza, including 13 people near military-controlled aid corridors.
“There is nothing left to occupy,” said Maysaa al-Heila, a displaced Palestinian. “There is no Gaza left.”
Many relatives of hostages have condemned the Gaza occupation plan, fearing it could doom their loved ones. Nearly 251 people were abducted on October 7; most have since been released, but around 50 remain in Gaza.
“Netanyahu is working only for himself,” said Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is held hostage. “He’s prolonging the war to satisfy extremists in his coalition.”
Some far-right members of Netanyahu’s government have called for resettling Gaza with Israelis and displacing Palestinians to other countries a proposal widely condemned internationally.
Israel’s military campaign has reportedly killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Independent organizations and the United Nations view the ministry’s figures as the most reliable, although Israel has disputed them without releasing its own tally.
The situation has worsened around Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution sites, where chaos, looting, and violence have turned food deliveries into deadly events. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) released a scathing report describing the sites as “orchestrated killing zones.”
“This is not aid. It is orchestrated killing,” MSF said, citing over 1,380 wounded and 147 gunshot victims, including at least 41 children, between June and July near GHF locations.
MSF accused GHF of gross mismanagement or intentional endangerment. GHF denied the allegations, calling them “disgraceful” and accusing MSF of spreading Hamas propaganda.
Israel already controls about 75% of Gaza. Analysts warn the approved operation in Gaza City could trigger regional instability, further international isolation, and worsening famine. With the United Nations sidelined and humanitarian corridors unsafe, the civilian population faces unprecedented peril.
Despite growing pressure from allies and rights groups, Israel’s leadership remains firm on achieving what it calls a “total defeat” of Hamas. Netanyahu insists the final goal is to clear Hamas from the territory and install a “friendly Arab administration.”
Whether this strategy succeeds or plunges the region into deeper chaos remains to be seen.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
