According to media reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to completely occupy the Gaza Strip. To this end, he expects to receive the support of the cabinet and the military leadership in the coming days, Netanyahu himself told ministers from his cabinet. The news portal ynetnews.com quotes an official close to the prime minister as saying: "The dice have been cast - we intend to occupy all of Gaza".
Negotiation tactic or real plan?
Citing government officials, Kanal 12 and the Jerusalem Post also reported that the cabinet intends to adopt a corresponding "updated strategy" for the Israeli armed forces. According to this strategy, military operations are also planned in areas where Israeli hostages are held.
Although there is still no official confirmation, the Palestinian Authority has already called on the international community to intervene and thwart the implementation of these plans, reports Agence France-Presse.
The publication on ynetnews.com speculates that these alleged plans may be part of a negotiating tactic to put pressure on the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. Negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages are currently at a standstill.
Netanyahu himself had previously publicly stated that he would convene the security cabinet this week to decide what actions to take from now on in the blockaded strip. In a video message on Sunday, he said that he believed the Islamist Hamas was not ready for a negotiated solution.
Israel currently controls three-quarters of the territory
The Israeli military currently controls about 75 percent of the coastal area, which is slightly larger than Munich but, with its roughly 2 million inhabitants, is even more densely populated than the German metropolis.
The hostages are believed to be in parts of the strip that the Israeli army has not yet entered and that remain under Hamas control.
Military leadership is critical
The Israeli army has previously spoken out against a full occupation of the Gaza Strip. Destroying all of Hamas' tunnels and bunkers could take years, the Times of Israel notes, citing the military's concerns. The paper also says the hostages could be in mortal danger if Israeli forces get too close to where they are being held.
However, according to media reports, Netanyahu is willing to take that risk. "There will be military operations in areas where hostages are being held," an official close to Netanyahu was quoted as saying. "If the Chief of Staff does not agree to this, he will have to resign."
According to media reports, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has had heated discussions with far-right ministers who are calling for the occupation of the entire Gaza Strip, the deportation of the Palestinian population to other countries and the construction of Jewish settlements.
Former intelligence officers call for more pressure on Netanyahu
In a letter published on Monday night, hundreds of former Israeli intelligence officers, including former intelligence chiefs, called on US President Donald Trump to increase pressure on Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.
"Our professional assessment is that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the letter said. The 550 signatories are calling on Trump to convince Netanyahu to make a ceasefire. "End the war, return the hostages, stop the suffering," they insist.