JERUSALEM – August 9, 2025 – The Israeli government has formally approved a military plan to establish full operational control over Gaza City, a move that marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. In a statement released late Friday, the Prime Minister's Office declared a broader strategic objective: to establish security control over the entire Gaza Strip, signaling a potential long-term occupation.
The decision has triggered immediate international alarm and a stark warning from Hamas about the fate of the remaining hostages held within the besieged territory.
The approved military plan, reportedly endorsed by Israel's war cabinet after intense deliberations, outlines a multi-phase operation. It authorizes the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to move deeper into the dense urban heart of Gaza City, which has been devastated by months of conflict. The objective is to dismantle the last remaining strongholds of Hamas's command and control infrastructure that Israel claims are located in a network of tunnels beneath the city.
An IDF spokesperson stated, "This operation is a necessary step to achieve our core mission: to eliminate Hamas's military capabilities and ensure that Gaza can never again be used as a base for terror against Israel. Our forces are prepared to operate with precision to minimize harm to non-combatants."
However, the declaration of intent to control the entire Gaza Strip represents a major policy shift. It moves beyond the previously stated goals of dismantling Hamas and suggests a more permanent security presence, raising profound questions about the future governance of the territory and the prospects for a two-state solution.
Reacting to the announcement, Hamas issued a grim warning through its official channels. A spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the group's armed wing, declared that any further Israeli advance into Gaza City would directly endanger the lives of the remaining hostages.
"The enemy's decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Gaza City is a death sentence for their own captives," the statement read. "The path to releasing the hostages is through a genuine negotiation and a complete cessation of aggression, not through brute force. The Israeli government will bear full responsibility for the fate of the hostages."
The development has been met with condemnation from humanitarian organizations, who warn of a catastrophic impact on the hundreds of thousands of civilians still sheltering in Gaza City. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, stating that a full-scale assault on the city would lead to an unbearable loss of life and completely cripple the already overwhelmed humanitarian aid operations.
International reaction has been swift, with several European and Middle Eastern nations expressing grave concern over Israel's plans. U.S. officials, who have consistently urged Israel to exercise restraint and present a clear "day-after" plan for Gaza, are reportedly in urgent talks with their Israeli counterparts. The strategic and humanitarian implications of a long-term Israeli occupation of Gaza are now at the forefront of global diplomatic concern.
