Israeli army reportedly proposes more Gaza occupation as ceasefire talks falter
Israeli outlet Channel 12 said its sources described the plan as one for 'taking over Gaza' although the report did not say how much new territory army officials suggest seizing.
It also cast the proposal as an effort by the army to counter a plan put forward by Israel's defence minister earlier in the month to force all the strip's population into the very south, a proposal former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said is akin to a 'concentration camp'.
The army's reported plan comes as Israel significantly increases its fighting in the enclave, which is facing critical levels of hunger, mass killings at aid distribution sites and new Israeli army operations in areas not previously attacked. Ceasefire talks are also widely viewed to be stalling, despite optimism that an agreement was near at the beginning of the month.
Army chief Eyal Zamir is thought to oppose Defence Minister Israel Katz's plan to create a 'humanitarian city' on the ruins of the southern city of Rafah, believing that it is too complex to implement. Israeli outlet Israeli Hayom reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was still engaging with Mr Katz's plan and that he blocked further discussion of Mr Zamir's alternative proposal.
The Channel 12 report came as Mr Zamir told troops in Gaza that he had presented 'options' to the country's political leadership to 'drive Hamas into increasing distress and reduce our troops' attrition'.
Despite polling consistently showing most Israelis prefer an end to the war in favour of returning hostages, many in Mr Netanyahu's far-right government want fighting to continue and appear to be unwilling to compromise on Hamas demands to guarantee and end to the war in ceasefire talks.
Settlements minister Orit Strock called on the military to fight in all areas of Gaza on Monday, even if it meant endangering the hostages. 'There must not be 'don't touch me' zones,' she told an Israeli radio station, referring to areas the military would not want to fight in for fear of harming hostages. She added that calculations cannot be made 'about whether this person's life is more important than that person's life,' suggesting that not fighting Hamas in all areas of the strip, even those with hostages, would engender Israelis living around Gaza.
Senior researcher at Israeli think tank INSS and The Misgav Institute Kobi Michael told The National that a temporary Israeli military occupation of Gaza is the best option for Israel if ceasefire talks fail.
'According to my understanding no entity on the planet is willing to dismantle H amas entirely bar the Israeli military, so eventually this is only valid option we really have,' he said, adding that Israel should gradually move from military occupation to handing control to a new civilian governing body over two to three years.
'There is a risk to hostages with ongoing fighting but the Israeli assumption is that they are the most significant asset Hamas has left, therefore they will do the most to keep them alive as their ultimate insurance policy.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
8 minutes ago
- The National
Iran says military helicopter confronted US warship near territorial waters
Iranian troops on Wednesday warned a US destroyer to stay out of territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, state television reported, but the US has claimed the confrontation was 'safe and professional'. The exchange in the Gulf of Oman between the two rivals comes a month after the US carried out strikes against three key Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war between Israel and the Islamic republic. Iranian state media published videos of the incident, taken from a helicopter dispatched to confront the USS Fitzgerald guided missile destroyer. In the video, a destroyer is seen from what seems to be a helicopter window as the pilot calls on the vessel to 'change course' and avoid approaching Iranian territorial waters. The destroyer reportedly responded by threatening to target the helicopter if it did not leave, semi-official Tasnim news agency said, but 'the Iranian pilot … reiterated the warning to stay away from Iranian waters', forcing the US vessel to 'give in' and alter its course. Iranian media described the incident as a tense exchange. But, a US defence official disputed the account. 'This interaction had no impact to USS Fitzgerald's mission and any reports claiming otherwise are falsehoods and attempts by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to spread misinformation,' the official told Reuters. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, identified the aircraft as an Iranian SH-3 'Sea King' helicopter and said the interaction took place entirely in international waters. Tension has been high since the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites which President Donald Trump hailed and claimed had 'obliterated' Tehran's capabilities. But media reports quoting US intelligence reports have suggested the campaign was only partially successful, setting Iran's nuclear programme back only by a few months. Washington and Tehran were engaged in indirect nuclear negotiations which were derailed by Israel's attack. Mr Trump has called on Iran to return to the table but Tehran has been hesitant to resume talks with the US. However, discussions are set to take place between Iran and European powers in Istanbul on Friday.

The National
an hour ago
- The National
Ali Larijani: Iran's former speaker who is making a quiet comeback
As Iran picks itself up following last month's war with Israel, the country's leadership is trying to find a diplomatic way out of the current predicament over its nuclear programme. It has resumed engaging with other parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement (outside of the US). These include the three European powers – France, Germany and the UK – as well as China and Russia. The Europeans have threatened to use the so-called 'snapback' mechanism in the 2015 deal to re-impose UN sanctions on Iran. As it seeks to avoid such an outcome before the deadline expires next month, Tehran must also recalibrate its relations with Moscow – especially as their military co-operation in the Ukraine war has led to criticism in Europe. Ali Larijani, a former Iranian parliamentary speaker and currently an adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, surprised many by travelling on Sunday to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Kremlin, the unannounced talks were focused on 'the escalated situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear programme'. Much speculation now abounds on the probable message Mr Larijani took to Mr Putin and how this might affect Iran's posture vis-a-vis Russia. The choice of Mr Larijani for such a sensitive trip is noteworthy since he doesn't hold an official position in government, although Iran's foreign ministry said he was in Moscow on behalf of President Masoud Pezeshkian – and that the ministry helped organise the trip. As an appointee of Mr Khamenei and a stalwart in the establishment, Mr Larijani carries enough diplomatic and political heft to have warranted a meeting with the Russian leadership. He has been in similar situations before, having visited China as the sitting speaker in 2019, in the company of then-foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Even after leaving office, he continued to help steer Tehran's relations with Beijing. However, his Moscow trip signals something more than a diplomatic process. It appears to mark a political comeback for Mr Larijani, who is playing an increasingly prominent role in Iranian politics these days. With his country in flux, and as the question of 'after Mr Khamenei, who?' becomes ever more pertinent, the former speaker could be harbouring lofty ambitions. Although the Islamic Republic was founded by an anti-monarchical revolution, it has a political aristocracy of its own – and this includes the Larijani family. Son of a prominent cleric, Mr Larijani has held several influential positions in government. Before he became speaker in 2008, he was a national security adviser and before that the head of the state broadcaster. He and his four brothers – all accomplished in their own ways – are part of a powerful conservative family with marital ties to other key families within the political class. Mr Lairjani's father-in-law is the late Morteza Motahhari, a well-known cleric and a key figure in the 1979 revolution. Despite having powerful links, the Larijani family was on the sidelines for many years. Mr Larijani always had impeccable conservative credentials. He was the bete noire of the reformist movement during his tenure at the state broadcaster, primarily over the state TV's constant negative coverage of then-president Mohmmad Khatami, who was a reformist. Yet not long after, the Larijanis found themselves in choppy political waters. Mr Khatami's successor, the hardline Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, came down heavily on the family, accusing its members of corruption, thereby making a significant dent in their image. Mr Larijani thereafter allied himself to the centrist president Hassan Rouhani, attracting even greater ire from hardliners and getting disqualified from running for the presidency on two occasions. His brother Sadeq, a former head of the judiciary, lost re-election to the influential Assembly of Experts last year. But as the pendulum of power once again swings inside the Islamic Republic, hardliners find themselves on the back foot as Mr Larijani and his brothers gradually return to the limelight. When Israeli missiles were raining down on Lebanon last November, Mr Larijani visited Beirut to meet then-prime minister Najib Mikati and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri. The trip received plenty of attention and since then, his profile has continued to grow. He frequently posts on social media, and he gets more air time on TV. In May, he made a well-publicised visit to the Tehran Book Fair. When foreign dignitaries visit Iran, they often make it a point to meet him. During last month's 12-day war, Mr Larijani decried Israel's attacks while urging forbearance on the part of the Iranian government. In doing so, he projected an image of someone with a steady hand and plenty of experience, wisdom and foresight – qualities that are in short supply within the establishment right now. The former speaker hasn't hidden his political ambitions. As mentioned earlier, he sought to run for president twice. Having backed several centrist candidates in last year's parliamentary election, he has positioned himself as a pragmatist. His resume includes not only many years in government but also extensive military experience, having served in key positions within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He is statesman-like and has a sense of humour, which would make him personable to many voters. The question then is whether he will receive the green light to run for high office one day. Recent developments suggest this might already be in the works.


The National
an hour ago
- The National
Ayman Odeh: The Palestinian-Israeli politician taking on the 'fascist' right
Six months ago, Palestinian-Israeli politician Ayman Odeh wrote of his joy that hostages captured by Hamas would be released in exchange for Palestinian detainees, under a ceasefire deal in Gaza. "Happy about the release of the hostages and prisoners. From here, we must free both peoples from the burden of occupation. We were all born free," his post read. Today, he is still paying the price for what was criticised as an attempt to equate Palestinian and Israeli situations. But despite attempts to attack him politically and physically, he continued to defy his critics. This month, the Knesset – Israel's parliament – failed to pass a motion to impeach him. He was then assaulted at an anti-war, anti-government rally in the city of Ness Ziona. In videos seen by The National taken by Mr Odeh's team, but too offensive to publish, extreme-right protesters were seen banging on the car he was in at the time, making obscene hand gestures and even chanting "death to Arabs". A decision was made he would go ahead and speak at the anti-war rally anyway. After he took to the stage, protesters hurled rocks at Mr Odeh, until it was too unsafe for him. Speaking to The National, Mr Odeh described his attempted impeachment as "an important battle with a success against fascists". But he says there are attempts by the extreme far right in Israel to "alter the Palestinian-Israeli identity". "They want us to be Arabs, without being Palestinians who believe in our nationalist cause. And Israelis, without having the same civil liberties as a Jewish citizen," he said. "That's why they were triggered by my post." Mr Odeh believes he is not being targeted but being used as a "means to an end". During the Israeli war with Iran, he said, the main topics being discussed were Iran and efforts to impeach him. "When they asked [a member of the Knesset] why I'm on the list of topics, he said it's because I'm considered the 'eighth war front'. "They want to wage a war on Palestinians." The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Adalah) worked closely with Mr Odeh. Speaking to The National, Adalah public relations specialist Moatasem Zedan said some of the organisation's efforts included sending messages to officials urging them to hold Mr Odeh's suspected attackers accountable. He said in many cases the legal process is not followed where it should be, despite the suspects being known. "This is unusual but not unexpected," he said. "Mr Odeh is the target of an incitement campaign against him." But the case of the Palestinian-Israeli politician is a symptom in a wider problem. "The assault on Ayman Odeh is not a separate issue from what Palestinians in Israel experience," he said. Violence against Palestinians in Israeli communities is being seen on a daily basis in the form of assaults on Palestinian labourers, for example, Mr Zedan said. "We also see policy brutality, including humiliating searches - which is part of a campaign that weaponises law as a tool for vengeance," he said. Ceasefire push With the Knesset now in a summer break for two months, and inter-coalition disputes at bay, the time is ripe for a ceasefire to be reached in Gaza, Mr Odeh said. Additionally, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff en route to the region while talks between Hamas and Israel take place in Doha, hopes for an imminent ceasefire are high. But Mr Odeh does not believe that a permanent end to the war in Gaza will be seen under the current Israeli government. He, along with many members of the opposition in Israel, believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is intentionally prolonging the war in Gaza for his own personal political gains, as he battles a court case against him that has been postponed repeatedly for security-related circumstances. "October 7 gave the right, the best excuse to change the geostrategic realities of the Palestinian cause. But when the war is over, there will still be 7.5 million Palestinians between the river and the sea," Mr Odeh said.