Tel Aviv
–
Israeli security cabinets convened on Sunday to review plans to seize control of Gaza city, even from Israel’s own security leadership, as the government faces international pressure and unprecedented domestic opposition.
This review is merely an official update to the security cabinet as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz already approved the IDF’s plans earlier this month. But that comes when Israel faces several important weeks both at home and abroad.
Alongside the planned military escalation, the Cabinet, made up of senior officials including Netanyahu and Katz and far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gwil, is expected to discuss diplomatic attacks in response to the expected wave of perceptions of the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next month.
According to two Israeli officials, Netanyahu is considering measures ranging from a full annexation of the West Bank to a partial annexation of selected settlements and sanctions by Palestinian authorities.
Annexation of any portion of the occupied West Bank using Israeli sovereignty would violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and spark enormous diplomatic backlash. But that’s exactly what Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners are demanding.
Given the measures in the West Bank, the Israeli government has advanced military attacks on Gaza city despite growing coverage to pursue diplomatic routes.
Israeli forces have recently launched a fierce strike in and around Gaza as they prepare to take over and occupy the city itself.
At least 47 people died in Gaza City alone on Saturday, according to figures from Gaza Hospital. A further 24 people have been killed in Gaza City since Sunday morning, figures showed.
Hamas has remained in Gaza despite nearly two years of fighting, with one of Israel’s latest attacks killing Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida, Katz said.
“Suddenly, as the campaign in Gaza intensifies, many of his crime partners, Hamas murderers and rapists, will join in,” he added.
Hamas did not immediately comment on Israel’s claim that Abu Obida was killed.
As the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Sunday, the attacks also came amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the abused enclave, with seven more people dead from malnutrition and 339 from malnutrition.
The most important opposition to Israel’s acquisition of Gaza city is the country’s security facilities led by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. He warns Netanyahu and his cabinet that the attacks in Gaza city will put the rest of the hostages in danger, deepening the human crisis in the Enclave.
Two Israeli sources told CNN that Zamir’s main interest and focus was the fate of hostages. He is expected to urge ministers to discuss negotiations on the latest ceasefire proposal before escalating the war. Sources said the position has also been approved by most other security agencies.
Earlier this month, Hamas accepted Qatar-Egypt mediators for a temporary 60-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, ten live hostages are returned in exchange for the massive release of Palestinian prisoners. The offer is based on a similar proposal presented in July by the US Special Envoy Steve Witkov, and was originally created in conjunction with Israel.
However, Netanyahu has recently changed its strategy in partnership with the White House. A few months after insisting on negotiations on a gradual and partial framework alone, he says he is now willing to discuss only a comprehensive deal that will free all hostages and end the war with Israeli terms.
As a result, Israel has not yet responded to Hamas’ acceptance of Cataryegaptia’s proposal on August 18th.
Netanyahu is not planning to raise negotiations at the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, but issues could arise during his presentation in Gaza city, according to two senior Israeli officials. The fact that the deal is not officially on the agenda shows how low the proposal for Netanyahu’s priority list is.
