Occupation plan: Israel is close to taking over Gaza completely

Israel is considering a scenario of total occupation of the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to media reports, intends to enlist the support of the cabinet on the issue of seizing the remaining part of the exclave, which reflects a noticeable tightening of the position of the Jewish state. However, a split is growing within the government and the army: the military command warns of the risks to the hostages. Meanwhile, Hamas refuses to disarm, an Israeli source tells Izvestia. Against this background, Egypt has openly expressed dissatisfaction with the statements made by the Palestinian movement.

Netanyahu may occupy the entire Gaza Strip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the ministers of his intention to seek the approval of the security cabinet to carry out a complete occupation of the Gaza Strip — despite objections from the military command. This is reported by a number of Israeli media, citing sources in the entourage of the head of government.

According to the Ynet news portal, an official close to Netanyahu said: "We are going to completely occupy Gaza." This statement reflects a marked tightening of the Prime Minister's position amid ongoing disputes about the future strategy of military operations against Hamas.

At the same time, an Israeli diplomatic source told Izvestia that a final decision on the transition to full occupation has not yet been made. According to him, discussions in political and military circles are continuing. Currently, the Israeli army controls about 75% of the territory of the exclave, but the new plan involves the capture of the remaining areas. Thus, the sector will be completely under Israeli control.

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Gazans told Izvestia about ivs for starving children and shelling near humanitarian aid trucks.

However, in Israel itself, such intentions caused a split in the government and the army. As reported, the chief of the IDF General Staff, General Eyal Zamir, opposes this initiative, fearing colossal losses and an increasing threat to the lives of hostages allegedly held in the central and northern regions of the exclave. The Israeli army estimates that a complete sweep of Hamas' infrastructure could take years, while each advance threatens to provoke the execution of prisoners.

According to Channel 12, the positions in the Cabinet are sharply diverging. Supporters of a military solution, including some far-right ministers, demand that the destruction of Hamas be completed at all costs. However, another group, which includes Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, the head of Mossad, David Barnea, and the head of the National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, advocates the priority of diplomacy and the conclusion of an armistice deal.

Hamas' negotiating position

While the military and political circles in Israel are discussing the fate of Gaza, the humanitarian situation in it is rapidly deteriorating. According to the local Ministry of Health, since the beginning of the conflict, the death toll has exceeded 60 thousand. The international community is increasing pressure on Israel, demanding an easing of the blockade and a cessation of hostilities.

Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said in an interview that the food shortage rate in the sector had reached 96%, and 180 people had already died of starvation. He compared the events to the Holocaust and accused Israel of using "Nazi methods."

Hamdan also criticized the hypocrisy of a number of countries, primarily the United States and Western states, which support Israel's military campaign and the blockade of Gaza, but selectively focus on the fate of the Israeli hostages, ignoring the suffering of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

A mixed reaction followed from Cairo. The head of the Egyptian state information service, Dia Rashwan, on the air of the al-Ghad TV channel, acknowledged the tension in relations between Egypt and Hamas. The reason was the words of one of the leaders of the movement, Khalil al-Haya, who accused the Egyptian side of exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Gaza: "Are your brothers in Gaza dying of hunger while they are on your border, next to you?" According to Rashwan, "al-Haya made a serious mistake that could affect the level of cooperation."

Nevertheless, the Egyptian official stressed that Cairo is guided by "strategic interests" and will continue efforts for a diplomatic settlement, despite the complications.

Mahmoud Al-Awadiya, a columnist for Al-Mayadeen TV channel, reported that Israel continues a continuous "campaign of hunger and thirst," which, according to him, the troops use as a means of pressure on the civilian population. Israel systematically impedes the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, seeking to deprive the Palestinians of basic livelihoods, he stressed.

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Against this background, cease-fire contacts between Israel and Hamas continue, despite the apparent stagnation. The Saudi TV channel al-Hadath, citing Palestinian sources, claims that contacts have not stopped since the breakdown of negotiations in late July, and now Hamas is under severe pressure from various sides. According to media reports, a partial agreement is being discussed, which may include the release of a certain number of hostages in exchange for a temporary cease-fire and the admission of humanitarian aid. However, skepticism is growing in Jerusalem, and therefore the emphasis is on a "military solution" to the problem. According to Israel, the main obstacle to reaching a compromise remains Hamas' rejection of the key demands of the Jewish state.

Hamas is not ready to disarm and dismantle its military wing, and this is a fundamental condition without which no long-term agreement is possible, an Israeli diplomatic source told Izvestia. At the same time, according to the Israeli press, American special envoy Steve Witkoff said on August 2 during a visit to Tel Aviv that Hamas was talking about readiness for demilitarization.

In a conversation with Izvestia, Palestinian political analyst Hani Salah stressed that Hamas has already demonstrated its willingness to compromise, agreeing to release a group of Israeli hostages — about ten people — as part of a possible deal. According to him, so far this is only a preliminary framework document, not a full agreement, and the Palestinian side insists on clear legal formulations in order to avoid differences in the interpretation of future agreements.