Tel Aviv (TDI): As the Israeli Prime Minister is due to meet his war cabinet today, to discuss plans for Israel’s war in Gaza, local media have reported that Netanyahu plans to seek approval of the cabinet for a full-scale occupation of the entire Gaza strip.
The reports suggest that the occupation operation by the Israeli military will extend to areas where Hamas has kept the captives. Domestic pressure for the release of the hostages is mounting on Netanyahu, and so is the pressure by more and more countries to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
“The decision has been made,” Amit Sega, chief political analyst with Channel 12, quoted an unnamed senior official in Netanyahu’s office as saying. The official confirmation is expected after the cabinet meeting.
This is not the first time Israel’s plans of annexation or occupation have come to light. Last week, a senior Israeli minister suggested that Israel could consider annexing parts of Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas.
This was Zeev Elkin, a member of Israel’s security cabinet. His comments solidify the reports that are circulating in Israeli media, and it is likely that such plans are seriously being considered by Netanyahu.
Read More: Israel Mulls Annexing Parts of Gaza Amid Stalled Ceasefire Talks
Just yesterday, Israeli attacks killed at least 74 Palestinians, including 36 aid seekers, as per medical sources in Gaza. International pressure to break the aid siege of Gaza is also piling up on Israel.
But contrary to entertaining the demands now increasingly coming from European countries, Israeli Prime Minister is considering a full-scale occupation.
“We must continue to stand together and fight together to achieve all our war objectives: the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said at the start of a regular cabinet meeting on Monday.
Talks around a peace deal are effectively stalled since the United States and Israel both walked out, citing Hamas as being responsible for no progress in the talks.
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