Israel Plans to Take Control of Gaza City: What It Means for the Region and the War

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has announced that the country's security cabinet has approved a plan to take control of Gaza City. This decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing 22-month military offensive in the Gaza Strip, raising questions about the implications for both the region and the future of the conflict.

What is Israel Planning to Do?

According to an official statement released by Netanyahu's office shortly after the security cabinet meeting, the Israeli military (IDF) will prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to civilians outside combat zones. The plan also includes five key principles for ending the war, which include disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, establishing Israeli security control, and creating an alternative civil government that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

What Would Taking Over Gaza City Mean?

From a military standpoint, the move would involve the deployment of tanks and troops into Gaza City, a densely populated area that has been transformed by the war. It is currently home to hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians, many of whom have been forced to live in overcrowded conditions due to the destruction of surrounding areas.

Gaza City is considered the heart of the Gaza Strip, and its capture would be both a symbolic and logistical milestone for Israel. However, it also raises concerns about the humanitarian impact, as the densely packed streets would likely lead to guerrilla-style combat with Hamas fighters. Humanitarian groups have expressed fears that such a move could exacerbate the already dire conditions for Palestinians in the region.

Who Would Rule Gaza?

One of the key principles agreed upon by the security cabinet is the establishment of an alternative civil government that is not controlled by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. However, no concrete proposals have yet been made regarding who this new ruling authority might be. If Israel were to take direct control of Gaza before an alternative government is in place, it would be responsible for providing essential services such as food, water, and medical care to the population, according to international law.

Netanyahu has suggested that control of Gaza might eventually pass to a coalition of