Israel approves full Gaza takeover plan, raising fears of deeper conflict and humanitarian crisis

Israeli officials announced Monday that the government has approved a sweeping plan to seize full control of the Gaza Strip and maintain a long-term military presence, a move likely to intensify the ongoing war with Hamas and draw sharp international backlash.

The decision followed a pre-dawn vote by the Israeli Cabinet and came shortly after the military began calling up tens of thousands of reservists. Officials say the operation’s main objectives are to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of Israeli hostages. However, the campaign is expected to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians toward southern Gaza, further worsening what aid groups describe as a catastrophic humanitarian emergency.

Since the breakdown of a temporary ceasefire in March, Israel has escalated its military campaign with continuous airstrikes and ground operations, taking control of roughly half of Gaza. The aid blockade that preceded the truce collapse — cutting off food, water, and fuel — has plunged Gaza into severe hunger and lawlessness.

As part of the newly approved plan, Israel will enforce military occupation across Gaza and implement a new system for distributing humanitarian aid, bypassing Hamas, which Israel accuses of misusing aid for military purposes. A leaked memo obtained by the Associated Press reveals that Israel intends to use private security firms to distribute aid directly to civilians, using facial recognition and SMS alerts to manage collection. The U.N. has strongly opposed this plan, warning it could exclude vulnerable populations and violate humanitarian principles.

In parallel, Israel has reportedly discussed with foreign governments a controversial proposal resembling former U.S. President Donald Trump’s idea of encouraging the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza — a notion widely condemned by both Arab and European governments.

Diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire have stalled. Israel maintains it will not stop military operations until Hamas is fully dismantled, while Hamas refuses to yield on its conditions.

The broader impact of the plan is unclear, including who will fund the private aid distribution system. Humanitarian organizations warn it could result in long-term displacement and what they describe as “de facto internment” of Palestinians.

The war began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people and resulted in around 250 hostages. Israel says 59 hostages remain in Gaza, though many are feared dead. In response, Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 52,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, and displaced over 90% of the population.

Israel previously occupied Gaza from 1967 until its withdrawal in 2005. Hamas has governed the enclave since taking control in 2007.