International: The Israeli security cabinet, following a decisive vote, has greenlit a five-point plan spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take control of Gaza City. The move, aimed at disarming Hamas and ending the protracted conflict in the enclave, comes amidst widespread anti-government protests across Israel.
The demonstrators are demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and the prompt return of hostages held captive by Hamas for the last 22 months. A statement from the Prime Minister’s office clarified that a “decisive majority” of ministers rejected an alternative proposal, deeming it incapable of achieving the stated objectives of defeating Hamas and securing the release of the hostages. While details of the rejected plan remain unclear, the approved strategy outlines five core principles: the disarming of Hamas, the return of all hostages, the demilitarisation of Gaza, the establishment of Israeli security control over the region, and the formation of a new civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are now tasked with preparing for the takeover of Gaza City, a process that will also involve the distribution of humanitarian aid to civilians in areas outside the combat zones. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza was initiated in response to the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. The subsequent military action has led to an estimated 60,000 casualties and has plunged Gaza into a severe humanitarian crisis, marked by critical shortages of food and medicine.
The World Health Organisation has recently highlighted the “alarming levels” of malnutrition in the region. Prior to the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu, addressing a group of Indian journalists, reiterated Israel’s position that it has no intentions of annexing or occupying Gaza. He stated that the country’s primary goal is to dismantle Hamas and subsequently transition the strip to a “transitory government.” He also asserted that Israel intends to maintain security control over the region. When questioned about the food crisis in Gaza, Netanyahu claimed that over two million tonnes of food were dispatched but were “interdicted.”
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