Jerusalem, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to unveil a new Gaza war strategy that includes a full-scale military occupation of the Palestinian enclave, despite growing international and domestic calls for a ceasefire.
According to local media reports on Tuesday, Netanyahu is expected to meet with top security officials, including the army chief of staff and defence ministers, to finalise orders for what sources describe as a sweeping re-occupation of the Gaza Strip. Although the meeting has not been officially confirmed, multiple Israeli outlets, including Channel 12 and public broadcaster Kan, say Netanyahu has already expressed his intent to expand the offensive.
“Netanyahu wants the Israeli army to conquer the entire Gaza Strip,” Kan reported, citing cabinet sources who claim the Prime Minister is determined to intensify operations in areas believed to hold Israeli hostages.
The plan, yet to be formally announced, has already sparked condemnation from the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, who argue that it threatens to derail ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
“We want to reach an agreement that ends the war,” senior Hamas official Husam Badran said in an interview with Al Jazeera. “The ball is now in the hands of Israel and the Americans.”
The renewed military push comes nearly two years after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks, which killed 1,219 Israelis and led to the abduction of hundreds. Since then, the conflict has devastated much of Gaza, with more than 60,000 Palestinians reported killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Aid agencies have warned of widespread famine affecting Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
At the United Nations, Israeli diplomats—supported by the United States—are reportedly working to shift international focus to the plight of 49 remaining Israeli hostages. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was in New York on Tuesday ahead of a UN Security Council session called to spotlight their situation.
Meanwhile, pressure on Netanyahu is rising at home. Families of the hostages have stepped up demands for a ceasefire, accusing the government of putting their loved ones at greater risk. The recent release of distressing propaganda videos by Palestinian militant groups has only intensified public outrage.
Despite mounting criticism, Netanyahu remains defiant. In a statement Monday, he reiterated that Israel’s war objectives include the “defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages, and ensuring Gaza can never again threaten Israel.”
In a parallel move to alleviate humanitarian strain, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced limited reopening of private trade with Gaza. The measure, aimed at reducing dependence on international aid convoys, will allow a small number of vetted merchants to deliver essential goods such as food, formula, and hygiene products—subject to strict Israeli security protocols.
As famine warnings grow and ceasefire talks stall, Netanyahu’s hardline stance signals a deepening rift between military objectives and humanitarian concerns, casting uncertainty over Gaza’s future and Israel’s diplomatic standing.
By Adeola Olaniya | August 5, 2025
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