JERUSALEM (BN24) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened senior Israeli security officials on Tuesday to review military options for Gaza, with Israeli media reporting he is leaning toward a complete takeover of the besieged enclave nearly two years into the war.
The closed-door meeting, described by Netanyahu’s office as a “limited security discussion” lasting three hours, included military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Officials briefed on the session said options for continuing the campaign were presented, and a strategy will be brought to the cabinet for approval later this week. The cabinet is set to meet Thursday evening.
Channel 12 television, citing a senior official in the prime minister’s office, reported Netanyahu favored regaining full control over Gaza — a move that would reverse Israel’s 2005 unilateral withdrawal and decades of policy that left governance to Palestinian authorities while Israel retained control over borders. It was unclear whether Netanyahu envisioned a prolonged occupation or a short-term operation aimed at dismantling Hamas and freeing remaining Israeli hostages. His office declined to confirm the report.
“It is still necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, release our hostages and ensure that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu told new military recruits on Tuesday. “We are not giving up on any of these missions.”
The reported plans come as international pressure mounts for a ceasefire to relieve catastrophic conditions in Gaza. Mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas have collapsed. Palestinian health authorities say at least 20 people were killed Tuesday when Israeli gunfire struck crowds waiting for U.N. aid trucks in the north, and 20 more were wounded under similar circumstances near Rafah in the south. Gaza’s Health Ministry said eight people died from starvation in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from hunger to 188 — including 94 children — since the war began.
The United Nations warned that any decision to expand Israel’s operations across all of Gaza would be “deeply alarming.” The U.S. State Department declined to comment on Netanyahu’s potential strategy, but Axios reported that President Donald Trump and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff discussed plans to expand U.S. humanitarian aid to Gaza in a Monday White House meeting.
Hamas on Saturday released a video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David, one of 50 captives still believed to be in Gaza, appearing severely emaciated in what looked like an underground tunnel. The images sparked outrage in Israel and abroad.
A Palestinian official told reporters the suggestion of a full military takeover could be intended as leverage against Hamas in stalled negotiations. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged the international community to act immediately to prevent the move, calling it either “a pressure tactic, a test of reactions, or a genuine plan.”
Inside Israel, the idea of occupying Gaza has divided political and military leaders. While far-right coalition members — including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir — have openly called for annexation, military leaders have consistently warned against a long-term ground presence in the densely populated territory. The Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday they are “prepared to implement any decision made by the Political-Security Cabinet.”
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed roughly 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, and displaced nearly all of its more than 2 million residents. Hunger and disease are widespread, with international monitors warning of an “unfolding famine.”
On Tuesday, Israeli tanks advanced into central Gaza, though it was unclear whether the incursion marked the beginning of a larger offensive. Residents in the last remaining areas outside Israeli ground control warned that a full push into the territory would be devastating.
“If the tanks push through, where would we go — into the sea?” said Abu Jehad, a wood merchant from Gaza. “It will be like a death sentence for the entire population.”
