Latest news with #Political-SecurityCabinet
Focus Malaysia
5 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Israeli security cabinet approves plan to occupy Gaza City
ISRAEL's security cabinet has approved Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to occupy Gaza City, located in the north of the Palestinian enclave, according to news reports. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office has yet to publicly confirm the plan, which is a major escalation in the war-torn Palestinian territory and was first reported by the news site Axios on Friday. Axios reporter Barak Ravid quoted the prime minister's office as saying: 'The Political-Security Cabinet approved the Prime Minister's proposal to defeat Hamas. The [Israeli military] will prepare to take over Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones'. —Aug 8, 2025
Spectator
5 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Only the occupation of Gaza will allow Israel to crush Hamas
In a decision of historic weight, the Israeli government has formally approved a plan to expand its military operation and establish full control over the Gaza Strip. This has come despite the opposition of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who raised pointed warnings during a meeting that began at 6:00 pm Israeli time last night and stretched late into the night. Tensions between Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surfaced throughout the protracted session, with several ministers directly challenging the chief of staff over his stance. Eventually, the Political-Security Cabinet voted by an 'overwhelming' majority to endorse Netanyahu's proposal to defeat Hamas through a combination of military occupation, strategic disarmament, and post-conflict governance. The new plan confirms what had been building for weeks: Israel is preparing to enter Gaza City and take direct control over what remains of Hamas's operational stronghold. It is the most decisive phase of the war yet, and it carries with it a magnitude of risk, cost, and complexity that has few historical parallels in modern Israeli warfare. According to the statement released by the Prime Minister's Office, the cabinet adopted five foundational principles to conclude the war. Firstly, the disarmament of Hamas, followed by the return of all hostages, living and deceased. Thirdly, the full demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip and permanent Israeli security control over Gaza. And finally, the establishment of an alternative civilian government – one that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. These are not abstract aims. They reflect the growing consensus in Jerusalem that the status quo is unsustainable, and that partial solutions – international pressure, containment, diplomacy – have all run their course. Israel already controls a large percentage of the Gaza Strip. Through successive operations, including the recent 'Gideon's Chariot' campaign, the IDF has cleared and now holds areas such as Rafah, Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, and large sections of Khan Yunis and Jabalia. But the northern corridor, including Gaza City, remains contested, and that is where the war will now focus. The cabinet's decision follows months of strategic stalemate. Despite substantial battlefield success, Hamas remains operational. Crucially, the hostages taken during the 7 October 2023 attacks, while mostly returned (some alive and many not), have become pawns in a gruesome psychological campaign. Palestinian terrorist groups have refused further negotiations, releasing sickening propaganda videos of emaciated captives, including footage of one digging what he was forced to declare was his own grave. The videos are not just acts of cruelty but calculated provocations aimed at breaking Israeli will. That effort has failed. The government has now resolved to act, believing that the only way to secure Israel's future and to rescue the remaining hostages is to dismantle Hamas physically, structurally, and politically. As part of this next phase, the IDF will initiate what is expected to be the largest civilian evacuation of the war, directing nearly one million Gazans from the north into central zones. There, humanitarian corridors and aid operations are being scaled up to accommodate a population already displaced multiple times. Israel insists that civilians will be kept outside combat zones, and aid will be delivered systematically under military supervision. Yet the challenges remain immense. Militarily, the IDF will be entering terrain that Hamas knows intimately, where tunnels, traps, and guerrilla tactics are expected. Politically, the idea of long-term Israeli 'security control' over Gaza without actual annexation or direct governance presents an unsolved riddle: who will take responsibility for civil life once the guns fall silent? Netanyahu has said Israel does not seek to govern Gaza. But the cabinet also rejected the Palestinian Authority as a viable alternative, owing to its corruption and unwillingness to properly abandon support for terrorism. The prospect of bringing in external Arab forces remains vague and possibly unworkable without significant international coordination and legitimacy. Still, for Israel, the calculus has shifted. The events of 7 October were not simply an outrage, they were a turning point. The goal now is not merely deterrence, but dismantlement. Not another ceasefire, but an end-state. Twenty years ago, Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza. Within a month, the rockets resumed. Within two years, Hamas ruled the enclave. The promise of that disengagement, peace through distance, collapsed under the weight of ideology and violence. What is being attempted now is, in essence, a reversal of that failure. To re-enter Gaza not to reoccupy it in perpetuity, but to crush the architecture of terror and replace it with something not yet defined but necessarily different. This may not be clean. It may not be swift. It may not even succeed. But for a government that sees no other viable path, and a public that, though divided, largely refuses to live under the threat of another 7 October, Netanyahu and his cabinet see it as the only course left to pursue.
Russia Today
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘We rightfully own this land': Gaza's residents on Trump's proposed exodus
Israel's controversial plan to relocate the people of Gaza abroad – a proposal supported by US President Donald Trump but widely condemned by the international community – has left the lives of millions hanging in the balance. Hailed as an 'opportunity for renewal' by its proponents and labeled 'ethnic cleansing' by critics, the plan aims to empty the war-torn enclave, offering those leaving a chance to rebuild their lives abroad. However, with Arab and African nations firmly closing their doors, and Gazans themselves torn between despair and defiance, the question remains: Is this truly a route to stability, or merely another chapter of displacement and uncertainty? Israel's relocation plan Israel remains committed to relocating Gazans. Earlier this week, the Political-Security Cabinet approved Defense Minister Israel Katz's proposal to establish a voluntary transitional administration for residents willing to move to third-party nations, aligning with President Trump's vision. Read more 'Safari hunting Alawites': Relatives of those murdered in Syria's massacre speak out Initially announced in February at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the initiative proposes relocating nearly two million Gazans to various countries, away from the now devastated territory described as a 'demolition site.' Abroad, Palestinians would supposedly gain opportunities previously unavailable to them. Meanwhile, Hamas – the governing authority in Gaza – would be disarmed and dismantled, allowing reconstruction efforts to turn the Strip into a Middle Eastern riviera. The proposal quickly drew widespread condemnation. The United Nations characterized the plan as 'ethnic cleansing,' underscoring that forced displacement violates international law. Several Arab nations denounced the proposal as an 'injustice' impossible to support. European countries labeled it 'unacceptable,' and Hamas dismissed it as 'ridiculous and absurd,' with spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri warning it could ignite regional tensions. Inside Gaza, criticism is similarly fierce. Voices from Gaza 'This is a ridiculous proposal without value,' said Asmaa Wael, a teacher from Gaza сity. 'We rightfully own this land and deserve to live here with dignity. We were born here, grew up here, and faced every obstacle and injustice, oppression, and war. We've endured tremendous pressure, and we won't abandon our home.' The problem is that Gaza, a 140-square-mile territory along the Mediterranean coast, has been completely destroyed. Since the war began in October 2023, nearly 70 percent of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed . Over 170,000 homes, 200 government buildings, 136 schools, 823 mosques, and numerous hospitals have been bombed. Read more 'My husband was killed in front of my eyes': Elderly survivors recall crimes of Ukrainian occupation in Kursk Region The human toll is immense, with over 50,000 killed, according to official Hamas statistics. More than 113,000 have been injured, and 1.8 million urgently need shelter. Asmaa realises that the Palestinian people have no other choice but to live on 'the streets and in tents' . But she says that her people have enough patience to pull through. Asmaa is far from being alone. Other Palestinians we have spoken to but who preferred to remain anonymous said they would rather stay on their land simply because they doubted the outside world would have anything better to offer them. Others were scared their departure would have a bad impact on their extended family that would remain; and there were also those who were afraid they would never be able to go back. But not everyone shared that pessimism. Omar Abd Rabou, a young journalist based in Gaza, views the Trump proposal as 'an opportunity for renewal and reconsideration of the Palestinians' futures.' He believes that relocation 'may provide those who wish to change their environment with access to new resources and better opportunities' . It would give people, he reasoned, a personal and economic growth. Some have already taken that path. According to Israel's channel 12, 35,000 Gazans have left the Strip since October, 2023. In March alone, a thousand Gazans have evacuated themselves, with 600 new applicants on their way out. And Israel believes their numbers will only be going up. Many of those who left so far are Palestinians with foreign passports, or those who have residence or relatives abroad. Those, who stayed, have nowhere to go but Israel and the US are actively looking for volunteers, who would be willing to absorb the masses. Read more Erdogan's bane: The Turkish president's most powerful rival is arrested. What now? Challenges Finding Host Countries Yet no countries have stepped forward. Jordan, despite agreeing to accept 2,000 sick children and their families, rejected broader displacement plans. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi canceled a planned visit to Washington, fearing US pressure to accept Gazans – an action he refuses. African nations, including Sudan, Somaliland, and Somalia, have also been approached. Sudan was offered military and reconstruction aid, Somaliland international recognition as an independent state, while Somalia denied any talks had occurred. Negotiations remain stalled, despite the US pressure suggesting Egypt's military aid could be at risk if Cairo refuses to accept half a million Gazans – a scenario Egypt is unlikely to accept given its own economic challenges. In recent years, Egypt has faced significant economic difficulties. In 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded Egypt's GDP growth forecast to 3.6%, a reduction from the previous projection of 4.1%. Similarly, forecasts for 2025-2026 were adjusted downward from 5.1% to 4.1%. Accepting half a million additional residents on top of its current population of 117 million is thus not feasible. Egypt's hesitations extend beyond economic concerns. Cairo has long battled terrorism linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and fears radical elements disguised as civilians could infiltrate, threatening national security. Read more Donald Trump is the furthest thing from the 'fascist' his enemies brand him Divergent perspectives on the future To Asmaa, the reluctance of neighboring Arab countries borders on betrayal. 'Arabs are fearful and incapable of taking meaningful action,' she laments. 'They're preoccupied with oil, agreements, and business deals. Our children are slaughtered in their infancy, and these countries respond with empty slogans because they're not the ones suffering.' Asmaa believes the solution will not come from Gaza's neighbours. The resolution will only be achieved, she believes, if the war ends and with it Israel's occupation. But for Omar, the situation is not black and white. Unlike many in the Strip, who have taken a rather militant approach towards Israel, especially after October 7, Omar is speaking about co-existence and about solving the conflict through diplomatic means. 'Resolving this conflict does not require escalation but rather a constructive dialogue. There must be room for negotiation that ensures security and rights, away from the use of force or continued escalation,' he reasoned. Yet, with the resumption of hostilities on March 17, and the ground incursion that followed shortly after, the prospect of peace seems nowhere in sight.
