JERUSALEM, Aug 9 — Tensions in the Middle East deepened yesterday after Israel’s security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approved a controversial plan for the military to “take control” of Gaza City — a move that has triggered criticism both inside Israel and around the world.
Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, calls for a truce are growing louder as more than two million Palestinians face extreme hunger, displacement, and loss. For many, the plan feels like yet another step away from peace. Hamas, the group whose deadly October 7, 2023 attack ignited the conflict, called the new operation a “war crime,” warning it would lead to further bloodshed.
Even Israel’s staunch allies are uneasy. Germany, in a rare move, suspended military exports to Israel, fearing they could be used in Gaza. Netanyahu lashed out, calling it a “reward for Hamas.” The plan’s stated goal is to “defeat” Hamas, demilitarise Gaza, and install a civilian administration not linked to either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, while promising humanitarian aid outside combat zones.
In a post on X, Netanyahu insisted, “We are not going to occupy Gaza — we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.” But the United Nations and many governments — including China, Turkey, and the UK — warned the plan could dangerously escalate the conflict. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described it as a “dangerous escalation” that could worsen the humanitarian crisis.
Inside Israel, reactions are divided. Families of hostages still held in Gaza fear the plan could put their loved ones at greater risk. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s 2023 attack, 49 remain in captivity, with 27 presumed dead.
In Gaza, the human toll continues to rise. Residents speak of constant displacement, hunger, and fear. “They tell us to go south, then north, now south again. We are human beings — but no one hears us,” said Maysa al-Shanti, a 52-year-old mother of six. Aid drops have even caused injuries and deaths due to overcrowding and falling supplies in densely populated areas.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The suffering is compounded by a looming famine, with at least 99 deaths already attributed to malnutrition this year.
While Israel’s military claims control over 75% of Gaza, the plan to take Gaza City marks a new and uncertain chapter — one that many fear could bring even greater human cost.
